Human Life Span And Human Development Theories
The Human Life Span and Human Development Theories
John A. Pustinger
University of Phoenix
The Human Life Span and Human Development Theories
Freud 's psychosexual theory and Erickson 's psychosocial theory both provide profound insight to human development. Through a comparison and contrasting framework, an analysis of these theories determines how they may apply to a second-grade student in a public school, a 31-year-old adult learner completing a master’s degree at a university, and a 68-year-old retired person taking a personal enrichment course on the Inca civilization in preparation for a tour to Peru. During the process, an explanation of the learning differences, needs, and processes become apparent. These similarities and differences …show more content…
A 68-year-old retiree would have some of the same learning tendencies of those similar to the learning aspects of the 31-year-old graduate student. Like the graduate student, the learning falls within the genital stage of Freud 's psychosexual theory. The retiree however would have a different motive for learning and as such, would have a higher interest in what was being taught. Costanzo (1995) noted, "Experiences in early childhood influence later development (p. 8). These experiences can have either a positive or a negative effect on the learner 's ability to master the objectives. Freud place a great deal of emphasis on the early years of human development and with this there may be impending difficulties as the learner …show more content…
Looking at three different stages from both Freud and Erickson 's theories, it become apparent that each stage helps to develop the next. This in turn provides the individual learner the ability to grow and develop into the person they will eventually become.
The contrasting aspects of Freud and Erickson are seen by the way each has designed their theory in determining how individuals develop intellectually and personally. Freud believes that a person 's personality and intellect are well defined within the first 5 years of development (Costanzo, 1995). This would have a detrimental effect on both physiological, emotional, and cognitive growth of the adult learner (Smith, 2009). Erickson by contrast believes that growth helps to develop the learner from infancy through maturity (Castanzo, 1995). It must be understood, that although Freud 's theory and beliefs were just edgy, they were the beginning point for human development. Without Freud 's work, Erickson would have nothing to work off of and may not have developed his own theory based on the needs of the individual. Therefore, both theories provide for and lend to the best interest of human development (Smith, 2009). With these ideas in mind, it becomes clear that Erickson 's theory provides a more suitable path for adult learners to develop than
John A. Pustinger
University of Phoenix
The Human Life Span and Human Development Theories
Freud 's psychosexual theory and Erickson 's psychosocial theory both provide profound insight to human development. Through a comparison and contrasting framework, an analysis of these theories determines how they may apply to a second-grade student in a public school, a 31-year-old adult learner completing a master’s degree at a university, and a 68-year-old retired person taking a personal enrichment course on the Inca civilization in preparation for a tour to Peru. During the process, an explanation of the learning differences, needs, and processes become apparent. These similarities and differences …show more content…
A 68-year-old retiree would have some of the same learning tendencies of those similar to the learning aspects of the 31-year-old graduate student. Like the graduate student, the learning falls within the genital stage of Freud 's psychosexual theory. The retiree however would have a different motive for learning and as such, would have a higher interest in what was being taught. Costanzo (1995) noted, "Experiences in early childhood influence later development (p. 8). These experiences can have either a positive or a negative effect on the learner 's ability to master the objectives. Freud place a great deal of emphasis on the early years of human development and with this there may be impending difficulties as the learner …show more content…
Looking at three different stages from both Freud and Erickson 's theories, it become apparent that each stage helps to develop the next. This in turn provides the individual learner the ability to grow and develop into the person they will eventually become.
The contrasting aspects of Freud and Erickson are seen by the way each has designed their theory in determining how individuals develop intellectually and personally. Freud believes that a person 's personality and intellect are well defined within the first 5 years of development (Costanzo, 1995). This would have a detrimental effect on both physiological, emotional, and cognitive growth of the adult learner (Smith, 2009). Erickson by contrast believes that growth helps to develop the learner from infancy through maturity (Castanzo, 1995). It must be understood, that although Freud 's theory and beliefs were just edgy, they were the beginning point for human development. Without Freud 's work, Erickson would have nothing to work off of and may not have developed his own theory based on the needs of the individual. Therefore, both theories provide for and lend to the best interest of human development (Smith, 2009). With these ideas in mind, it becomes clear that Erickson 's theory provides a more suitable path for adult learners to develop than