TL6 Section B Long Questions
Define Educational psychology
Erik Erikson (1902-1994)
One of the most significant theories on adolescence is that of Erik Erikson. Like Piaget, he saw development
as a passage through a series of stages, each with its particular goals, accomplishments and problems. His
influential theory on identity formation and personality development offers a basic framework for
understanding the needs of young people in relation to the society in which they grow, learn and later make
their own contributions.
Highlights of his theory are:
• The development of the human personality is the result of both genetic and social influences.
• The development of the individual passes through a series of stages determined by:
⦁ the maturatioil of certain abilities and interests
⦁ demands made on the individual of a certain age by society.
• The human life cycle consists of eight phases, each characterised by a crisis (a situation in which the
individual has to orientate him- or herself relative to two opposite poles).
, • Each of the eight stages is characterised by a specific development crisis that takes precedence at that
stage.
• The individual has to resolve each crisis anew during each phase, i.e. he or she must work through
previous crises again while subsequent crises are receiving attention.
• A development crisis is resolved by obtaining synthesis of the two opposite possibilities.
Phase 5, identity in opposition to identity diffusion, is the centrepiece of Erikson's theory. In this phase
adolescents wonder how other people perceive them, how this corresponds to their self-image and how the
roles and skills accquired fit in with their plans for the future. They experience a sense of identity when they
achieve intergration between earlier identifications, abilities, plans for the future and the opportunities offered
by society.
Social institutions (for example, schools, initiation schools, initiation rituals) support adolescents in the search
for identity. The identity gained is not permanent because it will still be influenced by their life; it will be
changed by experiences and aspirations. Identity diffussion may arise in the absence of sufficient
opportunities to experiment with social roles to gain self-knowledge.
The eight stages of development and their corresponding psychosocial crises, according to Erikson's eight
stages of psychosocial development, are shown in figure 4.1.
Define Educational psychology
Erik Erikson (1902-1994)
One of the most significant theories on adolescence is that of Erik Erikson. Like Piaget, he saw development
as a passage through a series of stages, each with its particular goals, accomplishments and problems. His
influential theory on identity formation and personality development offers a basic framework for
understanding the needs of young people in relation to the society in which they grow, learn and later make
their own contributions.
Highlights of his theory are:
• The development of the human personality is the result of both genetic and social influences.
• The development of the individual passes through a series of stages determined by:
⦁ the maturatioil of certain abilities and interests
⦁ demands made on the individual of a certain age by society.
• The human life cycle consists of eight phases, each characterised by a crisis (a situation in which the
individual has to orientate him- or herself relative to two opposite poles).
, • Each of the eight stages is characterised by a specific development crisis that takes precedence at that
stage.
• The individual has to resolve each crisis anew during each phase, i.e. he or she must work through
previous crises again while subsequent crises are receiving attention.
• A development crisis is resolved by obtaining synthesis of the two opposite possibilities.
Phase 5, identity in opposition to identity diffusion, is the centrepiece of Erikson's theory. In this phase
adolescents wonder how other people perceive them, how this corresponds to their self-image and how the
roles and skills accquired fit in with their plans for the future. They experience a sense of identity when they
achieve intergration between earlier identifications, abilities, plans for the future and the opportunities offered
by society.
Social institutions (for example, schools, initiation schools, initiation rituals) support adolescents in the search
for identity. The identity gained is not permanent because it will still be influenced by their life; it will be
changed by experiences and aspirations. Identity diffussion may arise in the absence of sufficient
opportunities to experiment with social roles to gain self-knowledge.
The eight stages of development and their corresponding psychosocial crises, according to Erikson's eight
stages of psychosocial development, are shown in figure 4.1.
