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LEC 5. (cont) THE CONCEPT OF THE Identity vs. Role

Adolescence Puberty

Confusion. Evolving a
SELF sense of self that is
reliable and consistent,
ERIK ERICSON’S PSYCHOLOGICAL STAGES OF
SELF-DEVELOPMENT both for oneself and for
“The human beings go through psychosocial stages in his others.
life” Young adulthood Intimacy vs. Isolation. Young adulthood

NOTE: In Buddhism: This concept is from the reality that we are Preparing for a
social beings (social animal) commitment to affiliation
The family is very important in the process of human
with others and
development because it is a part of our natural process. The family
becomes a very important of our nature as social animals. Therefore, developing the ethical
we should fight those efforts to destroy the family. These efforts are strength to abide by such
mostly related to sexuality like premarital sex, campaign for abortion,
commitments.
campaign for same sex marriage, and divorce.
Middle age Generativity vs. Adulthood

 Erik Ericson (1902-1994) was a stage theorist who took Stagnation. Finding a
Freud’s controversial theory of psychosexual development
way to support in the
and modified it as a psychosocial theory.
 Erik Erikson was a German-American psychologist who establishment and
together with his wife Joan, became known for his work on guidance of the next
psychosocial development.
generation.
 He was influenced by Sigmund and Anna Freud and
became famous for coining the phrase "Identity crisis." Old age Integrity vs. Despair. Maturity

 Erikson emphasized that the ego makes positive Integrating the earlier
contributions to development by mastering attitudes, stages into an acceptance
ideas, and skills at each stage of development.
of oneself and a sense of
 This mastery helps children grow into successful,
contributing members of the society fulfillment rather than
 During each of Ericson’s 8 stages, there is a psychological looking back in regret at
conflict that must be successfully overcome in order for a
what might have been.
child to develop into a healthy, well-adjusted adult.

YouTube source
① STAGE 1 “BASIC TRUST VS. MISTRUST” :
INFANCY
 (1-2 years)
 As infants we ask ourselves if we can trust the world and
we wonder if it's safe.

[+] We learn that if we can trust someone now, we can also

trust others in the future.
[-] If we experience fear, we develop doubt and mistrust.

 The key to our development is our mother.

② STAGE 2 “AUTONOMY VS. SHAME & DOUBT” :

EARLY CHILDHOOD
 (2-4 years)
 In our early childhood, we experience ourselves and
 The psychosocial stages of self-development by Ericson discover our body.
starts with the family ⮩ We ask: Is it okay to be me?
⮩ Starts with infancy
[+] If we are allowed to discover ourselves, then we develop
Age Psychosocial Stage Period
self-confidence.
Birth to 1 year Trust vs. Mistrust. Oral-sensory
[-] If we are not, we can develop shame and self-doubt.
Learning that the provider
of comfort is reliable,  Both parents now play a major role.
consistent, and
③ STAGE 3 “INITIATIVE VS. GUILT” :
predictable. PRESCHOOL AGE
2 to 3 years Autonomy vs. Shame and Muscular-anal  (4-5 years)
Doubt. Learning to  In preschool, we take initiative, try out new things, and
learn basic principles like how round things roll.
exercise independence
⮩ We ask: Is it okay for me to do what I do?
and freedom of choice
along with self-control. [+] If we are encouraged, we can follow our interests.
3 to 5 years
[-] If we are held back or told that what we do is silly, we can
Initiative vs. Guilt. Locomotor-genital
develop guilt.
Planning and executing a
task for the sake of  We are now learning from the entire family.
actively doing it.
④ STAGE 4 “INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY” :
6 to 11 years Industry vs. Inferiority. Latency
SCHOOL AGE
Developing as a worker  (5-12 years)
and producer.  Now we discover our own interests and realize that we are
different from others.

 We want to show that we can do things right.
⮩ We ask if we can make it in this world?
[+] If we receive recognition from our teachers or peers we
become industrious, which is another word for hard-working.
[-] If we get too much negative feedback, we start to feel
inferior and lose motivation.
 Our neighbors and schools now influence us the
most.
⑤ STAGE 5 “IDENTITY VS. ROLE CONFUSION” :
ADOLESCENCE
 (13-19 years)
 During adolescence we learn that we have different social
roles.
 We are friends, students, children and citizens.
 Many experience an identity crises.
[+] If our parents now allow us to go out and explore, we can
find identity.
[-] If they push us to conform to their views, we can face role
confusion and feel lost.
 Key to our learning are our peers and role models.
⑥ STAGE 6 “INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION” : EARLY
ADULTHOOD
 (20-40 years)
 As young adults we slowly understand who we are and we
start to let go of the relationships we had built earlier in
order to fit in.
⮩ We ask ourselves if we can love?
[+] If we can make a long-term commitment, we are confident
and happy.
[-] If we cannot form intimate relationships, we might end up
feeling isolated and lonely.
 Our friends and partners are now center to our
development.
⑦ STAGE 7 “GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATION” :
ADULTHOOD
 (40-65 years)
 When we reach our 40s we become comfortable, use our
leisure time creatively and maybe begin contributing to
society.
 Our concern is Generativity.
[+] If we think that we are able to lead the next generation into
this world, we are happy.
[-] If we did not resolve some conflicts earlier, we can become
pessimistic and experience stagnation.
 People at home and at work are now who influence us
most.
⑧ STAGE 8 “EGO INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR” :
MATURITY
 (65-death)
 As we grow older we tend to slow down and begin to look
back over our lives.
⮩ We ask: how have I done?
[+] If we think we did well, we develop feelings of contentment
and integrity.
[-] If not, we can experience despair and become grumpy and
bitter.
 Time to compare us with mankind.
THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE SELF
NOTE: Body that experiences the negative forces of earthly life. One
can experience the self when it achieves the everlasting happiness –
nirvana
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 Christianity adheres to the notion that the self is a
spiritual self
⮩ It takes more favor from the philosophies of Socrates
and St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Augustine
2 TYPES OF SPIRITUAL SELF
1. The Self that is the ego, also called the learned,
superficial self of mind and body, an egoist creation
2. The Self which is sometimes called the “True Self”, the
“Observing Self”
⮩ Based on our appearances, relationship with others,
and how others look at us.
o A positive self-concept helps us to feel good
about ourselves
o A negative self-concept makes us feel bad and
the fluctuating self-concept causes us to feel
lost and unsure about everything.
CHRISTIAN SELF-CONCEPT
 Made in the image and likeness of God
⮩ We share the likeness of God. We do not share the
divinity of God, but just the image of God
⮩ “Let us make man according to our image” – Genesis
1:26
⮩ If God has a self, we share the self of God
 The self-definitional feedback comes neither from parents
nor from peers, but from the Gospel of Christ, the writings
of the fathers, and the lives of the Saints.
⮩ Ourselves is not taken from the identity of our parents,
instead from the identity of what Christ said about
being human and truth of humanity
 The Christian Self lives by valuing what is truly valuable
and learning to let go of those things that are passing
away.
 The Christian Self envision a perpetual existence. An
everlasting life with God.
⮩ We live our life in accordance with the will of God
⮩ We should desire for unity with God = become
spiritually moral
PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF-CONCEPTS
DISTINGUISHED FROM CHRISTIAN SELF-
CONCEPT
 Psychological self-concept can lead us to protect and
defend thoughts, attitudes and behaviors that are contrary
to the identity of CHRISTIANS
NOTE: When you do something wrong, psychology would say
that it is a part of the existence of the self. But in the Christian
view of the self, doing wrong is not in line with the self that you
understand as a follower of Christ.
 It is easier to protect our self-concept by blaming other
people, places and things for how we behave
(psychological self concept)
⮩ Ex: A person may justify anger by pointing to the
actions of another as the true source of being angry.
⮩ The self knowledge includes things that are included
in our relationships with others. How we see
ourselves in the society.
 Preserving our fabricated and sometimes wrongly,
flattering self-concept is the dominant force behind the
justification and blame.
 Genuine Christian identity gradually informs, corrects and
even transfigures self-concept into a deep understanding
from the point of the mind of the Christ.
⮩ Know the teachings of Christ to be able to understand
the Christian identity
⮩ We each have a self-concept, but we also have an
identity. This identity is the identity of Christ in us.
⮩ We considered Christ as the center of our life.
Therefore, we have to know Him, know His teachings,
know His principles and become like Him
⮩ A Christian lives to become like Christ
What is it to be like Christ?
 Stand for the truth
 Consider God as the most important thing above all
things
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 Consider the other self (neighbor) as equal as

yourself

Christian view of the self:

“The self is an image and likeness of God”