Erik Erikson is one of the main contributors of theories throughout life stages. No one stage can be studied in isolation as Erikson has categorized each period in his Psychosocial Stages of Life. Erikson defines life as a series of eight crises that characterize the growth and progress of each individual. Erikson describes each crisis as a challenge to the ego, which should be viewed as a chance to evolve and improve oneself. Progress or development is achieved by resolving the conflict in each stage. Multiple studies indicate that in Erikson's 7th stage, Generativity versus stagnation, generativity reaches beyond middle adulthood and into late adulthood for several reasons. According to Cheng, one of the major factors producing later generativity is the more recent trend in couples marrying and having children later in life. He asserts that many individuals "do not finish their parental responsibility until being young old." (Cheng, p. 46.) Secondly, because of improved health care and longer life spans, individuals are spending more time with their grandchildren and great grandchildren which further promotes a sense of caring for others and leaving a legacy behind. Lastly, Cheng outlines that aging is not to be seen as negative and that professionals work to promote aging in positive light using the term "active aging" in which individuals should become socially involved and contribute to society by acts such as volunteering. (Cheng, 2009) Although Erikson clearly developed age stages, it is crucial to look at one's client through a lens depicting a continuum of these stages. In practice we need to assess where our client is at and work to understand their life course in a way that is logical to them. Some adults in this age frame may still be experiencing Erikson's 6th stage, Intimacy versus isolation or the last stage in life, Integrity versus despair. Regardless of the life stage a client may identify with, as social workers it is our duty to help them with a multitude of issues or concerns that may arise.
Here is a video that helps to explain Erik Erikson's Stages of Development: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s2dYVhtFnE
Middle Adulthood is focused on starting at 8:06 in this video. A fresh perspective that comes from
the video is that some adults are too generative and may over-extend themselves.
Middle Adulthood is focused on starting at 8:06 in this video. A fresh perspective that comes from
the video is that some adults are too generative and may over-extend themselves.