Critical Evaluation of Whether Certain Assumptions are...

Critical Evaluation of Whether Certain Assumptions are Present in Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory Three assumptions present in developmental theories, as mentioned by Duncan, van Niekerk and Mufumadi (2003) will be described in a concise fashion. The assumptions, ‘development follows a predictable pattern’, ‘human beings are resilient’, and ‘development is a function of the interaction between innate and environmental functions’, will also be examined insofar as they relate to the issues and concepts of Erikson’s theory. Furthermore, these assumptions and the theoretical concepts of Erikson’s theory will be discussed in terms of their importance in a South African context. Interwoven†¦show more content†¦For example, in the above stage, the polarities to be resolved were autonomy versus shame and doubt, the positive synthesis of which would be will-power (Louw, van Ede Louw, 1999). Turning now to South Africa, the structure of this society, in the author’s belief, has been in a state of mutation for the past 50 years, from political, racial and educational oppression, to an uprising, through democracy and reconstruction, onto a society now on the brink of a catastrophe from AIDS (Freeman, 1993; Erasmus, 2005). To assess whether human development follows a predictable pattern, these aforementioned factors need to be examined. However, in terms of the above assumption, only the disease AIDS will be focused upon. Some of the other factors will be considered further in the paper, insomuch as they pertain to the other two assumptions. The family structure has changed radically as a result of AIDS and AIDS-related deaths (Richter, 2003). Many children are/will be living without a parent/s and have had to, for example, head-up households long before they have reached adulthood (Richter, 2003; Freeman, 2004). This is going to affect their development, particularly in their formative years because of the psychological stresses and trauma placed on them. In the author’s opinion, the development pattern will as a result be anything butShow MoreRelatedIntro to Psychology: Chapter Notes 1- 54753 Words   |  20 Pages2012 Chapter 1- What is psychology? [pp. 1-23] LO1: Psychology as a Science (p. 4) * Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. * Seeks to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior and mental processes. * Theory * propose reason for relationships * derive explanations * make predictions LO2: What psychologists do (p. 5-6) * Research * pure Research * Applied Research * Practice * Teaching * Fields of Psychology Read MoreAn Evalution of the Attachment Theory Essay13038 Words   |  53 PagesTHE ATTACHMENT THEORY AN EVALUTION OF THE ATTACHMENT THEORY WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN CARE Gail Walters Dissertation Social Work BA (HONS) Manchester Metropolitan University Tutor: Pauline Black CONTENTS Pages Abstract Read MoreThesis, Term Paper, Essay, Research Paper21993 Words   |  88 Pagespsychological processes. There is still a need to understand factors within an individual, which put an adolescent at greater risk of falling pregnant and how development may be affected by pregnancy during adolescence. The existing theory that gives a psychological explanation for the occurrence of pregnancy among adolescents is the Emotional Deprivation Theory (Coley Chase-Lansdale, 1998). Research on adolescent reproductive health and programmes are fairly new in subSaharan Africa and a majority of them