Erikson Autobiographical Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Erikson Autobiographical Assignment - Essay Example The infant depends entirely on his or her caregivers hence the value of care that the child receives plays a vital role in the determining the child’s character (Erickson, 1963). It is at this stage that the child learns whether or not he / she can trust the people around him / her. Does the caregiver attend to the needs of the baby when he cries? Does anyone comfort the child when he / she is frightened? The child learns to trust the people who are taking care for him or her when these needs are consistently met. If his / her needs are not consistently met, the child will mistrust the people around him. A child who successfully develops trust feels safe and secure in the world. Caregivers who are not consistent, emotionally unavailable or rejecting contribute to feelings of mistrust in the children they care for. Mistrust will result to fear and a belief that the world is inconsistent and random (Erickson, 1963). During my infancy I was attached to my mother to the extent that I never wanted to let her go. Whenever my mother was away, I would cry and start suckling my fingers. I used to feel like anyone else apart from my mother was meant to harm me. With time I started getting used to my elder sister who would always attend to me whenever I cried. When I was one year old, I started investing in relationships with almost everyone at home, I had developed non-suspicious attitudes, was welcoming to touch, could easily let mother go and share my possessions. I had developed trust. At this stage children are focused on gaining a greater sense of self-control. The child learns to master skills such as walking, talking, feeding and other fine motor skills. The child also learns to say "NO!" which is a vital skill of the will. It is important to gain a sense of individual control over the world at this phase of development. The child develops a sense of control and a feeling of freedom on