Psychology 305 1

Psychology 305: Theories of Personality

Lecture 12

Office Hour Invitations by Student NumberJune 28th, 3:30-4:30, Kenny 2517

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The Neoanalytic Perspective

1. According to Jung’s theory, what are the major stages of personality development?

2. What are the 8 stages of personality development proposed by Erik Erikson?

3. How are Erikson’s 8 stages exemplified in the film Wild Strawberries?

Lecture 12

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

3. define the term “individuation.”

4. list the 8 stages of psychosocial development.

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1. review Jung’s stages of personality development.

2. distinguish between the three phases of childhood proposed by Jung.

5. identify the crisis associated with each stage of psychosocial development

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6. discuss the consequences of successful and unsuccessful resolution of the crisis associated with

each stage of psychosocial development

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According to Jung’s theory, what are the major stages

of personality development?

• Jung’s view of personality development differs from Freud’s view in 2 broad ways:

1. In contrast to Freud who believed that personality is determined by past events, Jung believed that

personality is determined by past events and future expectations.

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2. In contrast to Freud who believed that personality development is largely complete by 5, Jung believed that personality development continues to death.

Jung maintained that after 35 people can experience a psychological rebirth referred to as “individuation.”

Individuation is a psychological state in which the individual becomes a whole person by integrating the conscious and unconscious components of the mind.

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• Jung identified 4 broad stages of personality development:

1. Childhood (Birth – Puberty)

Anarchic Phase: A pre-ego phase characterized by sporadic periods of consciousness.

Comprised of 3 phases.

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Monoarchic Phase: Characterized by early development of the ego and logical/verbal thinking. Children can only

see themselves objectively.

Dualistic Phase: Characterized by further development of the ego and logical/verbal thinking. Children can see themselves objectively and subjectively.

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2. Youth (Puberty – 35 years of age)

A period of increased activity in which individuals experience sexual maturation.

The focus during this stage is external: Individuals attempt to gain independence from their parents,

begin a career, find a mate, and raise a family.

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3. Middle Life (35 years of age – Later years of life)

Individuals experience increased anxiety: Having successfully completed the second stage, individuals begin to question the meaning of life.

Individuals can choose to attempt to retain youth or give up the goals of youth and focus on their subjective world.

Individuals who make the latter choice are in the early stages of the process required for individuation.

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4. Old Age

The stage in which individuals prepare for death.

Early in this stage, individuals experience reduced consciousness as they are submerged in an unconscious fear of life in the hereafter.

However, later in this stage, individuals who realize that death is the ultimate goal of life have a return ofconsciousness and face death with the hope of rebirth.

Jung wrote the following about old age:

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“Ordinarily we cling to our past and remain stuck in the illusion of youthfulness. Being old is highly unpopular. Nobody seems to consider that not being able to grow old is just as absurd as not being able to outgrow child’s-size shoes. A still infantile man of thirty is surely to be deplored, but a youthful [old man], isn’t that delightful? And yet both are perverse, lacking in style, psychological monstrosities. A young man who does not fight and conquer has missed the best part of his youth, and an old man who does not know how to listen to the secrets of the brooks, as they tumble down from the peaks to the valleys, makes no sense; he is a spiritual mummy who is nothing but a rigid relic of the past.” (1934/1960, p. 407)

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• Accordingly, Erikson referred to his stages of personality development as stages of “psychosocial development.”

What are the 8 stages of personality development

proposed by Erik Erikson?

• Erikson’s theory of personality emphasizes interpersonal conflicts.

• Erikson maintained the personality development occurs across the lifespan, in eight stages.

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• Erikson believed that at each stage of personality development, we experience a conflict or “crisis.”

• He maintained that the potential for each crisis is innate, and that each crisis emerges only when specific environmental demands are encountered.

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• Erikson maintained that successful resolution of the crisis at a given stage results in the acquisition of a “basic strength” that is needed to proceed to the next stage of development.

• In contrast, unsuccessful resolution of the crisis at a given stage prevents the acquisition of the basic strength that is needed to proceed to the next stage of development, resulting in stagnation or “fixation.”

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• In his theory of personality development, Erikson identified 4 childhood stages, 1 adolescent stage, and 3 adult stages:

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1. Infancy

First year of life.

Crisis: Basic trust vs. mistrust.

Successful resolution: Occurs when infants develop confidence in their caregivers to consistently meet their basic needs.

Basic strength: Hope (the enduring belief that one’s needs, desires, and wishes will be satisfied).

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2. Early Childhood

Second year of life.

Crisis: Autonomy vs. shame and doubt.

Successful resolution: Occurs when toddlers acquire a sense of independence stemming from their self-control.

Basic strength: Willpower (the determination to exercise free choice as well as self-restraint).

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3. Preschool

3 – 5 years of age.

Crisis: Initiative vs. guilt.

Successful resolution: Occurs when young children feel that they can take action to pursue their desires or urges.

Basic strength: Purpose (the courage to pursue valued goals without fear of punishment).

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4. School Age

6 – 11 years of age.

Crisis: Industry vs. inferiority.

Successful resolution: Occurs when children feel that they can master tasks of the “tool world” (i.e., the practical work-related world, including tasks at school).

Basic strength: Competence (the belief that one has the dexterity and intelligence required to complete meaningful tasks).

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5. Adolescence

12 – 19 years of age.

Crisis: Identity vs. identity confusion.

Successful resolution: Occurs when adolescents develop an integrated and consistent self-view (i.e., one that is seen similarly by oneself and others).

Basic strength: Fidelity (the ability to be true to oneself and to significant others despite contradictions in value systems across roles and relationships).

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6. Young Adulthood

20 – 35 years of age.

Crisis: Intimacy vs. isolation.

Successful resolution: Occurs when young adults feel that they can merge with another individual without losing their personal identity.

Basic strength: Love (a mutual devotion with another individual that is greater than any antagonism between the identities of each individual in the partnership).

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7. Adulthood

36 – 60 years of age.

Crisis: Generativity vs. stagnation.

Successful resolution: Occurs when adults feel that they are able to guide, nurture, and contribute to the

development of the next generation.

Basic strength: Care (a broad concern for others that extends beyond the narrowness of self-concern).

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8. Old Age

61 years of age – death.

Crisis: Integrity vs. despair.

Successful resolution: Occurs when older adults feel a sense of emotional integration or satisfaction with the choices they have made and the life experiences they have had.

Basic strength: Wisdom (a detached but active concern with life in the face of death).

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How are Erikson’s 8 stages exemplified in the

film Wild Strawberries?

• Erikson wrote extensively about the film Wild Strawberries. He believed that it effectively portrays the 8 stages of psychosocial development that he proposed.

• While watching the film, try to identify the stages of psychosocial development that Erikson proposed.

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The Neoanalytic Perspective

1. According to Jung’s theory, what are the major stages of personality development?

2. What are the 8 stages of personality development proposed by Erik Erikson?

3. How are Erikson’s 8 stages exemplified in the film Wild Strawberries?

Lecture 12