Analysis Of My Growth Through The Lens Of Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory And Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory

A theory is an interrelated, coherent set of ideas that help to explain phenomena and facilitate predictions. As Santrock rightly explained, it is difficult, if not impossible for any child to grow strictly through the lens of just one kind of theory. The eclectic theoretical orientation approach is a much more realistic concept, however, for this post, I am going to narrow my growth theory down to two foremost theories – psychoanalytic theory (specifically Erikson’s psychosocial theory) and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory.

Knowing if Erikson’s first stage of trust versus mistrust and his second stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt affected me positively or negatively for sure is not possible because I do not remember most of what happened between when I was born and 3years of age, which is when those two stages occur, however, I believe they both had more negative than positive effects on me because, as I was told, I was always wanting to be by myself, lonely and rarely talked or played with other children.

After my 3rd year I was a very insecure child. I developed a high sense of guilt as described in Erikson’s third stage because I grew up under very controlling adults and caregivers. I was not allowed to do anything I wanted to do. I had to live by the books as it were, failure of which led to me being punished by flogging or asking me to get on my knees and raise my hands up for hours. This made me even more conscious of myself and the decisions I take because I tried to avoid anything that would get me punished. A good way to avoid it was to just be by myself as much as possible.

Erikson’s 4th stage of his psychosocial theory, industry vs. inferiority, explains that if children are encouraged and reinforced for their initiative, they begin to feel industrious and feel confident in their ability to achieve goals but if not, the child begins to feel inferior, doubting his own abilities and therefore, may not reach his potential. I developed a high sense of inferiority as a child, some of which still plagues me till date. I remember when I was 6 years old I was taken to a private school to see if I would be accepted into school. The principal asked me what I had for breakfast and I wouldn’t answer. I had bread and tea for breakfast that morning and those words were right on my lips, but they just would not come out no matter how hard I tried. I was refused entry into that school because of this singular act. The principal said I was too timid and would not fit in with the kind of students. This event remains vivid in my mind because on getting home that day, I was given the beating of my life. The next day I was taken to a public school where I answered all the questions perfectly. Did I respond well this time because the low-level school seemed to feel more at home for my inferior self or due to the fear of been beaten again?

Till date this question remains unanswered, but the fact remains that I will never know how much of my life’s potential, if any, that I lost due to my growth that timidity, fear and complex instilled in me by unsuspecting caregivers.