By Jennifer Morrison, PsyD.
Throughout the course of our lifetime, there are number of psychological hurdles that we have to overcome in order to continue to grow along the path of psychological development. There are several different age groups, and with each group comes a unique developmental task the person must grapple with in order to continue to grow psychologically. Without accomplishing the developmental task, a person can remain stuck and continue to struggle both with their self-identity and in their relationships. This article was influenced by Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development.
From birth until the age of 18 months, the major task the child must learn is whether or not they can trust the world and the people in it. Without this basic trust, the child can learn to feel unsafe and hopeless. In order to build a sense of safety in their world, the child looks to those who care for him or her. Ideal caregivers are consistent, stable, predictable, and reliable. From the relationship with their primary caregiver, this trust will generalize to other relationships. Trust leads to hope. With hope, the child knows that even if they are threatened or feel unsafe that the child knows that their caregiver will support them. Without hope, the child becomes fearful. If the child does not develop trust, the child will lack confidence in themselves and others, have increased anxiety, and feel insecure.
After 18 months, the child transitions into a new stage. This stage lasts until about three years of age. The child is becoming more mobile and physically active as well as starting to exert their independence on the world. It is at this age the child should be learning that they have skills, like putting on their own clothes, playing with toys, and making choices about what they like to eat. During this time, it is important for the child’s caregiver to allow this independence to develop. However, balance is the most important caregiver task here. They must allow the child to attempt to do things on their own, but if the child is unsuccessful, they must be careful not to criticize the child for failures. Success here leads to the child being able to confidently survive in their world. Without this, the child will struggle with self-esteem, become overly dependent on other people, and have a sense of shame or doubt about their own abilities.
From ages three to five, the child is becoming increasingly more active. One of the most important parts of this stage is play. Through play, children learn to explore relationships with other children and initiate activities. If given the opportunity, children begin to play, initiate interactions with other children, and make decisions. If this is not encouraged, children will develop a sense of guilt, feeling like a burden on other people. These children tend to become followers as they have no confidence in their ability to initiate activities.
For more information, please refer to Erikson’s Youth: Change and Challenge. If you are concerned about your child’s psychological development, contact a mental health professional. This article is the first in a series addressing psychological development across the lifespan.
Since 1974, John R. Day & Associates, Christian Psychological Associates provides quality care for the whole person. They work with area physicians, attorneys, court services, and pastors to bring healing to the lives of children, adolescents, and adults. They have six locations throughout Central Illinois: Peoria, Normal, Eureka, Princeton, Canton, and Pekin. They can be reached at 309-692-7755 or by visiting
www.christianpsychological.org.