Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development:
In Stage II: Learning autonomy vs. shame (18 months to 3 ½ years) A child begins to make choices – "Do I put this in my mouth, or not; do I want to be in the room with others or explore?" There are choices, experimentation, boundaries, and supervision. A parent should guide the child - with consistency, teach cooperation, and encourage positive interactions with others as the child determines, “Is it okay to be me?”
If curiosity is stunted, and has limited opportunity to explore their environment, due to hostile guidance, the child will likely become immobilized with fear, shame, and doubt.
In Stage III: Purpose – Learning initiative vs. guilt, 3 ½ to 5 years - If a child is refused the opportunity to perform tasks they are capable of, or discouraged by criticism, punishment, or ridicule while trying to exercise a sense of autonomy, children may feel frustrated, act aggressively such as throwing objects, hitting, biting, and attention-seeking outbursts.
Stage IV: Competence – Experiencing industry vs. inferiority, 5 to 12 years
During this phase, children begin to interact with others at school or in other children’s homes. This is where they learn to interact with adults and their peers according to the accepted rules and mores of others. They adapt to structured activities of interest, including sports. Classroom etiquette, homework demands, and team activities that further promote structure, If the above is not properly reinforced, children will act accordingly, often leading to a lack of confidence, feeling inferior, thus bullying others or becoming the target of bullying.
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