Human Growth and Development
The topic that has been most relevant to me has to be the Erikson Psychosocial Theory. Erikson’s theory explains that we are faced with a series of challenges or tasks that we need to achieve from the time we are born and throughout our adulthood. The success and failures to the challenges at each stage of our lives determine our mental health, development of our personalities, and whether we will be well-adjusted human beings. The theory also demonstrates that we are a result of our childhood experiences.
This topic has given me a sense of enlightenment when interacting with others and an understanding of myself. The theory has its limitations, but the approach is beneficial; it forms a basis for looking into child development and parenting strategies. As I was learning this topic in class, my mind would drift back to childhood and my experiences that some of my personality traits result from how I was raised. In my earlier years, my parents were always very deliberate with my siblings and me. They allowed us to make our own decisions, provided guidance, and supported our choices. As a result, I consider myself a confident and independent person.
After learning and discussing with my friends on the topic, I observe interactions with others, and I see how they view the world. When people consider people with a lot of distrust, I often wonder if their mistrust of the world is rooted in their childhood experiences. Due to this topic, I have more empathy and showing kindness a lot more in my interactions with others. This topic has made me aware of the possible causes of the problems I experience in my adult life. Due to this awareness, I want to confront my issues head-on and try to resolve them.