Kohlberg’s moral understanding stage theory and Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Adulthood is a challenging stage for human beings. It is a time of responsibility and taking care of others. Independence is a common trait of adulthood and several persons tend to meet self-conflict at its onset. As an individual, it has been a time of self-reflection and having a vision of the future with focus. Adulthood has its set of privileges that lacks in childhood stages. The age of majority provides such persons with the ability to vote, marry, and engage in sexual pleasures of life and work to earn a living. The paper will focus on Kohlberg’s moral understanding stage theory and Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development to explain the changes identified with adulthood within these theories.

Lifespan Theories

The stages identified with adulthood in Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development include the stage six, seven and eight. Stage six in Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development talks of intimacy and isolation that defines the very conflict in exploring personal relationships. Adulthood at early stages seeks for commitment and security while interacting with others. Stage seven focuses on generativity and stagnation. At this stage adults attempt to make sense of their lives through focusing on family and career. Lastly, stage eight entails a struggle between despair and integrity in the old age of an adult. Self-reflection is major concern at the eight stage as those that deem themselves failures have feelings of despair and bitterness. Kohlberg’s moral understanding stage theory stages on adulthood include level two and three that entails conventional and pre-conventional morality. Conventional morality focuses on the ability of adults to internalize moral standards. They are able to create interrelationships and maintain social order within the doctrines of society. The third level of post-conventional morality is associated with moral reasoning and self-chosen principles. These includes understanding and executing individual rights as well as social contract. Universal principles help in defining moral guidelines among adults.

Comparison of Theories

There are similarities in Kohlberg’s moral understanding stage theory and Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development. These includes stage six of Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development on exploring personal relationships that resembles conventional morality on internalizing moral standards within Kohlberg’s moral understanding stage theory. Interrelationships are created in both theories within the stages identified. Personal relationships and interrelationships are critical elements of society and adulthood develops on such attributes. The doctrines of society in Kohlberg’s theory are established through social order and Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development theory focuses on self-reflection in stage eight. Besides universal principles employed in the third level of Kohlberg’s theory corresponds to that of self-reflection within Erik Erikson’s theory. These theorists approached issues on adulthood based on moral reasoning and ensuring a sense of reflection towards enhancing social order in society.

Theoretical Differences

The two theories have differences based on approaches to adulthood. Kohlberg’s theory emphasizes on morality while Erik Erikson’s theory reflects on psychosocial development. Stage seven of Erik Erikson’s theory focuses on stagnation or generativity where adults reproduce and start families while that differs in Kohlberg’s approach where social contract is adhered to and moral reasoning given importance. Moral guidelines in the post-conventional stage are emphasized as part of the final stages of adulthood while the case is different for Erik Erikson’s theory that place emphasis on integrity and despair as a final phase.

Conclusion

The two theorists provide argument on the stages of adulthood that matter from their perspective. However, similarities and differences emerge in the stages of the two theories. Morality remains the subject matter of on Kohlberg’s approach while Erik Erikson’s approach put focus on relationships in society