Erik Erikson: Stages of Development Term Paper

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Of course, not every individual resolves all of these conflicts successfully. "Erikson is not explicit but presumably assumes character types comprised of combinations of the sets of traits related to the eight stages of development. Whenever a fixation occurs, it is likely to jeopardize sound development in subsequent stages as well [Erikson said] -- 'failure is cumulative'" ("Erik Homburg Erikson,"2008).

Influences

The era when Erikson developed his theory of development was heavily influenced by the rise of "Ego Psychology," and the belief that the human ego exists from birth -- hence the fear amongst many parents that if they parented poorly, even in terms of the child's first feedings, they could cause psychological damage to their developing offspring's sense of self ("Erik Homburg Erikson," 2008). Erikson also came to his professional maturity during a time when the influence of culture and biology became important in psychology, as biological changes are a part of the external influences upon developing and aging. Science in general, and the ability of science to engineer human existence brought the idea of human conditioning and the ability to study and quantify differences to the cultural forefront. Finally, Erikson's own anthropological experiences with native populaces such as the Sioux nation reinforced his beliefs in the influence of culture on behavior, and his sense that Freud's idea of universal stage of development was not completely accurate ("Erik Homburg Erikson," 2008).

Application to work environments

There are a number of ways in which Erikson's theory could be applicable to a work environment. Firstly, the idea that different life stages have different needs could motivate a company to instate mentoring programs, specifically for young adults to help them establish their professional identity in relationship to an older individual.

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Creating age 'sharing' social events (like celebrations of veterans, Baby Boomers, and young person's music or culture) could create an interdepartmental community of support and understanding. Supportive services like day care and flexible family leave could enable young and middle-aged adults to navigate the difficult balance between home and work life.

Also, for older adults transitioning into a new life stage, of reaping the benefits of long years of labor or of being grandparents, there could be specific social activities that value their contribution to the workforce, while still acknowledging their productive capability from years of experience, such as awards ceremonies, retirement information sessions and 'socials' as well as parties and appreciation 'weeks.' Allowing part-time work for certain employees, like the semi-retired or lower-paid internships for adolescents striving to find their role in society would also bring a wider range of individuals at different developmental stages into the company.

Despite the fact that the Freudian, non-biological theory of personality development it was based upon has been widely discredited in our modern culture of pharmacology and its view of psychological pathology as a biological illness, Erikson's theory ironically seems more relevant than ever. The workforce is incredibly diverse, generationally, as people work longer than ever, as young people jump into careers early on to gain a competitive edge, and whole industries take on a generational quality, like that of the telecommunications world, or the web-based corporate brands like Google. Understanding the needs of an age group is also vital in marketing and advertising, as well as designing useable services to particular demographics. Thus Erikson must not be forgotten, even if his developmental stages may not be applicable, perfectly, to all cultures and all organizations.

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