Developmental Theory, Moral Development, and Gender and Cultural Influences

Most people ar confused some how humans grow, mature, and arrive a unique temper. This research written report pull up stakesing handle the two antithetical theories of Kohlberg and Erikson pertaining to humans personality, deterrent example evolution, and their gender and cultural differences.It leave alone further pardon the character of each breaker point of human tuition in shaping a certain sight of their behavior, and how it changes over a period of time. maturemental Theory, Moral education, and Gender and Cultural Influences Human beings rifle to develop from the time of their birth and will continuously change and develop until they reach the peak of adulthood.There ar many theories that attempt to explain how human beings develop their personalities and identities over a period of time. Looking at the incompatible theoretical views in psychology, it can be very confusing and misleading in terms of how an exclusive matures and develops.However, thes e theories will further explain and several(prenominal)how let people clear the livelong process of growth and development of an various(prenominal). Two developmental theories will be discussed in this paper, as well as their similarities and differences.The paper besides aims to present how these theories affect the development of an man-to-man from birth to adulthood. The theories to be discussed atomic number 18 Erik Eriksons possible action of psychosocial development and Lawrence Kohlbergs orders of moral development.Eriksons Model of Psychosocial DevelopmentErik Erikson is a developmental psychologist who believes that a person develops their personality in a series of branch and ages. Eriksons surmisal describes the impact of social experience across the whole sustenancespan. Eriksons model of psychosocial development is a very significant, highly regarded, and meaningful thought.Erikson positive the eight stages of psychosocial development of an individual. I n each stage, he believes that people experience problems and conflicts in life thus, it serves as a turning prognosticate in a persons development throughout his or her life stages. These problems atomic number 18 pass judgment to develop or impede the psychological ability of an individual (Wagner, 2008). The first stage of Eriksons developmental theory is the Trust vs. Mistrust. This occurs between births and when a minor reaches one year old. It is said to be the about(prenominal) fundamental stage in life.It is a stage where a sister learns to trust the people nigh such as the mother or parents who are expected to be there and provide them with their springy needs worry care, love, trust and food. Since an infant is absolutely dependent, developing trust is usually based on dependability and quality of the nestlings caregivers.If a churl finally develops trust, he or she will now feel secure living in the world. On the other hand, if trust is not developed in this s tage, a child may develop fear and a belief that he or she lives in an unpredictable and conflicting milieu (Chelsi, 2006). The second stage occurs when a child becomes a toddler.This stage is called Autonomy Vs Shame and Doubt. In this stage of development, early childhood is tensenessed on enhancing a great gumption of personal control. For instance, when a child learns to control certain parts of his or her body like toilet training and learning how to walk, then he or she will have a sense of control.This child will feel independent as well and develop a sense of self-direction to do something on his or her own. However, if the child fails to attain personal control, it will leave in feelings of pity and doubt (Wolfe, 2007). Stage collar of Eriksons theory is called Initiative vs.Guilt.This stage happens when a child becomes preschool already between the ages of four and five. In this stage, a child become more active and will piddle and explore a lot. It is also where a child develops a conscience and begins to understand what is right from wrong.Support is exceedingly needed in this stage because if it is not present, feelings of guilt can develop and will be the blood line of conflict later in the childs life (Wagner, 2008). Fourth stage in this theory is Industry vs. Inferiority. This stage occurs when a child reaches the age of 2-12 years old and when they attend early school.Every child needs to feel that he or she has achieved something in every work he or she does, most especially in school. That is why school is very important in this stage of development. If a child constantly successfully achieves something with the use of his or her own skill or ability, there will be a greater chance that the child will feel proud and confident within him- or herself. On the other hand, if the child fails to achieve something, it may result in feelings of inferiority and low self-consciousness in the childs personality (Wagner, 2008). Identity vs. C onfusion reach outs up the fifth stage of Eriksons theory.This stage takes place during the adolescence period of an individual. Adolescents will try to discover their identity and figure out their personality and where they should belong in the world. It is the stage wherein a child begins experimenting since it is a way to discover him- or herself. If the child was not able to discover and cognise him- or herself, then there will be role and identity confusion in them. Consequently, he or she will be confused with his or her cultivate in the world and can cause dilemma later on in the next stages of life (Chelsi, 2006).The sixth stage of this theory is Intimacy vs. IsolationThis happens during early adulthood between the ages of 18 and 40. It is a stage wherein a person explores personal relationship, specifically intimate relationships with other people. Thus, in this stage, people begin to succession and find a partner to marry.Those who are successful will achieve a sense o f social occasion and security from their partner or other people, while failure to do so may result in isolation and feeling of loneliness and depression (Wagner, 2008). Stage seven occurs at the age of 40 to 65, and it is called Generativity vs. Stagnation. In this stage, an individual continues to build lives yet focuses now with career and family.This is where a person learns to care and be have-to doe with for other people. Being active and participative in the world is what people feel if they succeed in this stage. However, having less self-worth is what people would feel if they fail to meet this stage successfully (Wagner, 2008). Lastly, the eighth stage in Eriksons theory is called integrity vs. despair. This occurs in old age between ages fifty and up. It is a stage where people look back on their life and reflect on what happened.There may be a feeling of satisfaction or regret. They will have a sense of integrity when they feel expert and fulfilled with what happen ed in their life, while they may feel despair and bitterness if they think that their life was entirely a waste. Life is full of learning new things and challenges that help people grow and develop. This theory of Erikson is really helpful for understanding a child and adults development (Wagner, 2008). The six stages of Eriksons theory is related to the gender differences of an individual, with the fifth stage (Identity vs.Confusion) being the more crucial.This is because in this stage, it is said that people are try to seek their real personality and identity by choosing where they should belong and admiting their purpose in life (Streitmatter, 1993). Environmental, cultural, and ethnicity factors are present in the whole stage of a persons development. These factors see an individual over the period of time when a person matures and lives his or her life. Environment such as the family, school, and the whole society is always involved in the process.In addition, a certain sha de and ethnicity of a person may give a great influence as well in shaping an individuals personality, which makes them a certain persona living and operation in the world. There may be a culture that is acceptable to the norms of a specific group of people, but then that specific culture may not be common and not acceptable to the other, so it is very important to know also where a person originated so that a person may understand why some people has different beliefs, values, and behavior in life ( electric razor Development, 2006).Kohlbergs Developmental Model of Moral Development Kohlbergs theory is quite different from Eriksons theory. His theory focuses on the moral development. It is divided into three levels with two different stages on each level, which gives a total of six different stages of moral development. aim one is the pre-conventional morality level, and it has two stages. The first stage is the obedience and punishment orientation. It is a stage wherein a child learns what is right and wrong actions and behavior.Children also learn in this stage that for every action they make they will create a certain consequences of it. For example, if a child does something good, then they will be rewarded. On the other hand, if a child does something bad, then they will know that there will be a certain punishment and consequences for their actions. The second stage under pre-conventional level is called individualism and exchange. At this stage, a child learns to be concerned not only for himself or herself but for other people as well.Children start to learn reciprocity and stand in the position of doing something for other people if it is for his or her self-interest. Hence, the child will follow a certain rule if he or she knows that she or he will gain something from it. Children at this stage are very focused and concerned with fairness and equality. The justice here is do unto others what as they do unto to you. Thus, if a person does somethi ng good to someone, then he or she expects that the person will do something good to him or her as well.The same thing happens if a person does something bad to somebody he or she then can expect that the person will do something bad to him or her in return (Crain, 1985). Level two is conventional morality, and the third stage is good interpersonal relationships.In this stage, children do something because they already know that it is good, and they will be able to have good relationship with family, classmates, friends, and neighbors. They now know the concepts of trust, care, love, and being concern with other people, giving them a good impression of themselves from other peoples perspective.In this stage, children aim to please people most them, and intentions are basically all good, since they are very concerned with having a good image to portray in the society, and since they are expected to behave in a way that the society asks them to behave. Fourth stage is maintaining th e social order. It is still quite related to the third stage, but in this stage, a person become fully concerned not only the people around them but the whole society and environment already.Now in this stage, a person learns about obeying laws and respecting the people and the authority, and they focus on performing a certain duty so that there will be a social order in the society. People at this stage will be knowledgeable about the societal law, and they are automatically expected to abide such laws that are imposed into their society and environment (Crain, 1985). Next is level three, and it is called the post-conventional morality where the last two stages lies ahead. The fifth stage is social contract and individual rights.During this stage, an individual believes and looks into his or her own moral values and principles in life and becomes aware that it should be also good for the society. People develop their own opinions, beliefs, and values in life in this stage.They also understand that codes of conduct are relative to their social group. This varies from culture to culture and subgroup to subgroup. A person enters into an agreement with colleague human beings to treat them fairly and nicely and to respect authority when it is equally moral and deserved. Lastly, the sixth stage is called the universal principles.This stage involves the universal ethical principles in an individuals life. A person uses his or her conscience and their own ethical principles to decide what is right and wrong behavior and actions. Here people are motivated by their conscience that surpasses cultural, religious, or social convention rules (Uncgrad, 2007). Kohlbergs theory and stages of moral development is said to affect the gender differences, environmental, cultural, and ethnic influences in ways. A research says that gender differences have no number in the moral judgment of a person.However, they discovered that female are more in all probability to mature than m ale in the adolescent stage, making female more advanced when it comes to moral reasoning. seek states that girls are generally about two years ahead of boys in cerebral cortical and social-cognitive functioning (Silberman & Snarey, 2007). On the other hand, factors such as the environment, culture, and ethnicity of a person have a great effect also in developing a persons moral judgment since these are factors that are always present in an individuals life.For instance, when two different races such as occidental people and Asian people are compared, the difference in culture and beliefs is very evident that it is only likely that they will have different moral judgment (Mulder, 1997). Both theories of Kohlberg and Erikson critically discuss and explain how a person builds their personality and moral development in the life span of an individual.Understanding both different stages of Kohlberg and Erikson will also prevent people from having conflicts and dilemmas in facing and de aling with life since people already know the sources and origins of humans personality and moral development.ReferencesChelsi (2006). Erik Eriksons Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. Associated Content.Crain, W.C (1985). Chapter Seven Kohlbergs stages of moral development. Theories ofDevelopment (pp. 118-136). US Prentice-Hall.Mulder, B. (1997). Moral Developments Development Recent Research. Hope College.Retrieved October 14, 2008 from http//www.hope.edu/academic/psychology/335/webrep/moraldev.html.Quintana, S. M. , et al. (2006). Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in Child DevelopmentContemporary Research and Future Directions. Child Development, 77 (5), 1129-1141.Silberman M. A & Snarey J. (2007). Gender differences in moral developmentduring early adolescence The contribution of sex-related variations in maturation. Current Psychology, 12 (2), 163-171.Streitmatter, J. (1993). Gender differences in identity development An examination oflongitudinal data. Adolescence, 28, 5566.U ncgrad, (2007). Kohlbergs Stages of Development. Associated Content. Retrieved October 14, 2008 fromhttp//www.associatedcontent.com/article/461832/kohlbergs_stages_of_development html?cat=7.Van Wagner, K. (2005). Stages of Psychosocial Development. About.comRetrieved October 14, 2008 fromhttp//psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/psychosocial.htm.Wolfe advantageously (2007). Erik Homburger Eriksons Grid of Psychosocial Stages of ChildhoodDevelopment. Associated Content. Retrieved October 14, 2008 fromhttp//www.associatedcontent.com/article/299357/erik_homburger_eriksons_grid_of_psychosocial.html?cat=58.