Erikson's 8 Stages: Soundtrack of my life

Stage 1. (Trust versus Mistrust)

               -Song Title: Learning to Trust

               -Artist: David Meece

               -Influence: The first stage of Erikson’s theory depicts the early years of life and how we depend on our guardians to take care of us. Although we were too young to remember, as an infant, we still understand that when we cry it was for attention. We cry to feel satisfy that we were acknowledged and our physical requirements and psychological needs were met. During this stage, we seek trust in our guardians for everything from feeding to interaction. Knowing that someone will be there, lets us develop trust. Without any interaction, infants will develop a sense of mistrust and could become inconsolable.

               -YouTube Link: David Meece - Learning to Trust

Stage 2. (Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt)

               -Song Title: Take me There

               -Artist: Mya feat. Blackstreet

               -Influence: At this stage in Erikson’s psychosocial development, I am at the age where I am developing my sense of independence. With the curiosity to explore, it is important that my parents encouraged my curiosity rather than overprotecting me. If I was shut out for being independent or curious, I could begin to feel shameful in my actions. Being restricted or refrained from exploring could have led me down a path of shame, allowing myself to doubt my curiosity or actions. Luckily, my parents encouraged my imagination and my sense of adventure. It was reassuring to know that if I needed them, they were there to back me up.

               -YouTube Link: Mya - Take Me There

Stage 3. (Initiative versus Guilt)

               -Song Title: Little Lion Man

               -Artist: Mumford and Sons

               -Influence: During Erikson’s third stage development, I am faced with the crisis of taking the initiative to do something without the influence of someone else. When I take this brave first step, it was important for me to feel secure with my actions. I am trying to explore new challenges and tasks, yet looking to make sure what I am doing is approved. However, if my caregiver were to discourage my choices or actions, I will begin to get a sense that what I am doing is bad and I would feel guilty. This song states “you’re not as brave as you were at the start” because by taking the initiative takes a lot of bravery to even decide to implement your actions. Then later as I progress, there were times when I felt ashamed because of certain feedbacks I have received from my peers. By overcoming this crisis, I learned that the things I chose to do were not bad because I was only trying to explore and learn ways to take action. It is important that I began to understand that I should not feel guilty for my imagination or curiosity, and that my parents encourage me to play.

               -YouTube Link: Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man

Stage 4. (Industry versus Inferiority)

               -Song Title: Respect

               -Artist: Arethra Franklin

               -Influence: At this stage I am experiencing and acquiring new skills to feel competent in myself. During this time, I am undergoing a crisis of feeling successful and competent or begin to feel a sense of failure and inadequacy. I just want R-E-S-P-E-C-T, not only gaining this respect from others but giving it as well. Through my social interactions, gaining respect and credit for my actions make me feel even more confident in myself. Although there are instances where I may face criticism, the respect I gain from others and the respect I learn to give myself, enhances my positive identity.

               -YouTube Link: Arethra Franklin - Respect

Stage 5. (Identity versus Role Confusion)

               -Song Title: Graduation

               -Artist: Vitamin C

               -Influence: As I enter Erikson’s fifth stage of psychosocial development, I am confronted with the idea of growing-up to become a young adult. At this stage, I am trying on different roles to get an idea of who I am and what I want to do with my life. As one chapter ends, another one begins. Through this, I am able to gain a sense of my individual identity and what role I play towards my society. If I am unable to successfully gain my sense of self, I could lose myself in confusion from the roles of others. It is important for me, at this stage I begin to ask myself “where do I see myself in 5 years.” The challenge of leaving my high school years behind to follow my own path is where I can overcome this identity stage.

               -YouTube Link: Vitamin C - Graduation

Stage 6. (Intimacy versus Isolation)

               -Song Title: Trust Me

               -Artist: The Fray

               -Influence: For the past 6 years, I have been with my long term boyfriend. With him I felt I secured my sense of intimacy and I was able to share my experiences with someone. Until recently, we decided that we became “too comfortable” with each other, to the point that we gradually began to lose sight of who we really are as an individual. Although it hurts and I begin to feel lonely, depressed, and isolated, I remember the good times we had and not to dwell in the pain. I am glad that I am able fight the urge to be sad and remind myself to be strong for my self-confidence. I have been through worse with previous relationships, but this is not one that I will regret. He has taught me so much and we are able to remain friends, for things did not end on bad terms. During these 6 years, I am grateful that I met someone as wonderful and amazing as he is. It is calming to know that I got the chance to share my laughter’s and experience’s with someone like him. To move on with this crisis, I need to take this time to get in touch with myself. My parents and my older sister are incredible supporters that lets me know I am not alone.

               -YouTube Link: The Fray - Trust Me

Stage 7. (Generativity versus Stagnation)

               -Song Title: Hailey

               -Artist: Eminem

               -Influence: Erikson’s seventh stage of development occurs during middle adulthood. At this point in my life, I should have stability in my work and a family of my own. As I hit mid-years of my life, I strive to nurture my children because they are a piece of me, and soon they will grow to become a part of our society. It is a positive contribution that I feel that I am putting out into this world. This lets me feel accomplished that I have benefited my future generation’s rather feeling failure, or stagnation. This song talks about him feeling worthless until he realizes that he has something to live for, which is watching his daughter “grow up with pride.”

               -YouTube Link: Eminem - Hailey

Stage 8. (Ego Integrity versus Despair)

               -Song Title: Crossroads

               -Artist: Bone Thugs n Harmony

               -Influence: The final stage of Erikson’s theory is where I will begin to review my life’s accomplishments and accept that there were times of success and failures. During this time I will begin to sort through my experiences and will understand that now I am that much wiser. I believe that as I begin to near the final years of my life, family is what would matter the most to me. I would no longer feel the need to find new social interactions, for the ones most important and close to me are the people who have always been around. Death is not scary, it is inevitable and the best way to deal is to understand that life was good. No regrets.

               -Youtube Link:  Bone Thugs n Harmony - Crossroads