The PersonThe Person

Part IIPart II

Critical Phases of the Critical Phases of the Life CycleLife Cycle

Primary attachment in the Parent-Primary attachment in the Parent-Child dyad – The First Social systemChild dyad – The First Social system We should not refer to the infant as an We should not refer to the infant as an

autonomous entity in itself.autonomous entity in itself. It is a component of a system – two-personIt is a component of a system – two-person The newborn enters the world in a totally The newborn enters the world in a totally

dependent statedependent state Initially in an undifferentiated stateInitially in an undifferentiated state Profoundly egocentricProfoundly egocentric

Trust vs. MistrustTrust vs. Mistrust

The necessity to develop a feeling of The necessity to develop a feeling of trust in others and in one’s self and trust in others and in one’s self and for healthy mistrust of one’s for healthy mistrust of one’s environment.environment.

Based in communication between Based in communication between the infant and the caring person. the infant and the caring person. (Bonding)(Bonding)

Primary needs are the oral, nutritive Primary needs are the oral, nutritive needs.needs.

Dysfunctional ConditionsDysfunctional Conditions

Transactions between a human Transactions between a human system and its social environment system and its social environment are necessary to its definition of are necessary to its definition of boundary of self.boundary of self.

If not defined, infantile autism may If not defined, infantile autism may result.result.

If not differentiated, symbiosis If not differentiated, symbiosis results.results.

Maternal DeprivationMaternal Deprivation

Absence of relationshipsAbsence of relationships Child’s lack of responseChild’s lack of response Distorted relationshipsDistorted relationships

Situations in which the child is Situations in which the child is undifferentiated from the parentundifferentiated from the parent

Interlocking dependencyInterlocking dependency The parent may assimilate the childThe parent may assimilate the child The parent perceives the child as the The parent perceives the child as the

embodiment of a single quality, such as stupid, embodiment of a single quality, such as stupid, evil, or totally demanding.evil, or totally demanding.

Insufficient Insufficient RelationshipsRelationships

A situation in which a mother provides A situation in which a mother provides insufficient opportunity for interaction.insufficient opportunity for interaction.

The parenting person is unable to give The parenting person is unable to give emotionally because of own isolation, emotionally because of own isolation, cruelty, coldness, or learned inability cruelty, coldness, or learned inability to relate to others.to relate to others.

Parent may be narcissistic and Parent may be narcissistic and involved with self so that no more than involved with self so that no more than physical care is provided.physical care is provided.

Circumstances exhaust the caring Circumstances exhaust the caring person’s energies and little love is person’s energies and little love is available for nurturance of the child.available for nurturance of the child.

One or more of these distorted or One or more of these distorted or insufficient relationships are often insufficient relationships are often found in cases of child abuse. found in cases of child abuse.

Separation Separation

The interruption of an already established The interruption of an already established relationship and to the need for continuity relationship and to the need for continuity and predictability.and predictability.

Prolonged separation between the ages of six Prolonged separation between the ages of six and twelve months is most harmful and may and twelve months is most harmful and may not be reversible.not be reversible.

Bowlby found that juvenile delinquency was Bowlby found that juvenile delinquency was highly correlated with separation experiences highly correlated with separation experiences in the preschool years and suggested that in the preschool years and suggested that early childhood separation is a causal factor early childhood separation is a causal factor for some delinquents.for some delinquents.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Autonomy vs. Shame and DoubtDoubt

Establishment of a sense of self as an Establishment of a sense of self as an entity, distinguished from the entity, distinguished from the environment.environment.

First assertion is through communication.First assertion is through communication. Sensitivity to order is characteristic.Sensitivity to order is characteristic. Assertion of will becomes critical.Assertion of will becomes critical. There is ambivalence at this time.There is ambivalence at this time. Communication continues to be Communication continues to be

predominantly nonverbal.predominantly nonverbal.

Initiative vs. Guilt Initiative vs. Guilt

Occurs through its interaction with Occurs through its interaction with the social environment (the family the social environment (the family system).system).

Oedipal conflict is central, as is the Oedipal conflict is central, as is the sense of right and wrong.sense of right and wrong.

Identification is a frequent method of Identification is a frequent method of coping.coping.

Favorable ratio of initiative will create Favorable ratio of initiative will create purpose and direction.purpose and direction.

Common issues:Common issues: Creation of a qualitative sense of self. Creation of a qualitative sense of self.

Identification with the parent of the same sex.Identification with the parent of the same sex. Play is an important mode of behavior with Play is an important mode of behavior with

solitary daydreaming and peer play the two solitary daydreaming and peer play the two most dominant forms.most dominant forms.

Children imagine how they might influence the Children imagine how they might influence the world and are likely to be sensitive to anything world and are likely to be sensitive to anything that threatens the integrity of their bodies.that threatens the integrity of their bodies.

A critical time for the development of the A critical time for the development of the conscience.conscience.

Industry vs. Inferiority Industry vs. Inferiority

Occurs in the interaction with Occurs in the interaction with components of the community components of the community system: formal organizations system: formal organizations (schools) and informal organizations (schools) and informal organizations (neighborhoods).(neighborhoods).

Mastery: seeking to assert control Mastery: seeking to assert control over both its physical self and its over both its physical self and its environment, physical objects, social environment, physical objects, social transactions and ideas/concepts.transactions and ideas/concepts.

A time to learn the technology and ways of A time to learn the technology and ways of one’s culture.one’s culture.

The child participates in these organizations, The child participates in these organizations, developing a sense of self as competent and developing a sense of self as competent and incompetent, in some ratio.incompetent, in some ratio.

If the culture transmitted by the school is If the culture transmitted by the school is alien to or opposed to, the culture of the alien to or opposed to, the culture of the child’s family, the young is in a difficult child’s family, the young is in a difficult position.position.

To accept a differing way or culture may be To accept a differing way or culture may be felt as an act of betrayal of self, family, or felt as an act of betrayal of self, family, or tribe.tribe.

The child may seek mastery outside the The child may seek mastery outside the school, seeking master of its own school, seeking master of its own culture, not that of others.culture, not that of others. Lack of participation in school by people of Lack of participation in school by people of

color may be an example of this.color may be an example of this. Educational system serves to socialize the Educational system serves to socialize the

student into accepting and supporting the student into accepting and supporting the ways of the majority culture.ways of the majority culture.

Such socialization is a means of social Such socialization is a means of social control.control.

Society expects the child to demonstrate Society expects the child to demonstrate mastery and competence primarily in mastery and competence primarily in the single institution of the school.the single institution of the school.

Public schools find it very difficult to Public schools find it very difficult to complete all the assignments the complete all the assignments the cultures gives them.cultures gives them.

The school has been required to deal The school has been required to deal with society’s primary problems: racism, with society’s primary problems: racism, sexism, poverty, and the use of drugs.sexism, poverty, and the use of drugs.

Peer GroupPeer Group

This experience is a necessary This experience is a necessary element in which mastery is tested.element in which mastery is tested.

The peer group of middle childhood The peer group of middle childhood is modeled after the culture within is modeled after the culture within which it exists.which it exists.

The peer group is likely to be The peer group is likely to be strongest in direct relation to the strongest in direct relation to the stability of the population it draws stability of the population it draws from.from.

Peer groups in suburbia are likely to Peer groups in suburbia are likely to be weak and transitory.be weak and transitory.

Peer groups in small towns or urban Peer groups in small towns or urban neighborhoods may be stronger.neighborhoods may be stronger.

Inferiority results from:Inferiority results from: Insufficient accrual of resources from Insufficient accrual of resources from

previous crisisprevious crisis Unclear or unreasonable expectations by Unclear or unreasonable expectations by

adults or peers.adults or peers. Excessively high criteria by which to judge Excessively high criteria by which to judge

competence and mastery.competence and mastery. The feeling the child has about their The feeling the child has about their

own competence that is crucial, not own competence that is crucial, not competence as measured by adult competence as measured by adult standards.standards.

Mastery of ground rules of life is Mastery of ground rules of life is important to children at this stage.important to children at this stage.

Peer groups have fairness, social Peer groups have fairness, social order, and the “rules of the game” at order, and the “rules of the game” at the core of their reason for existing.the core of their reason for existing.

Problems of Middle Problems of Middle Childhood Childhood

Poor school performancePoor school performance Symptoms not expected at this age.Symptoms not expected at this age. Social inferioritySocial inferiority Cultural incongruityCultural incongruity

Self-Development of Self-Development of Identity Identity

A time when biological and social A time when biological and social imperatives demand that the evolving imperatives demand that the evolving person organize and develop an identity person organize and develop an identity that goes beyond an accumulation of that goes beyond an accumulation of roles.roles.

It is a state of being that cannot be It is a state of being that cannot be viewed by others; or objectively viewed by others; or objectively evaluated by them.evaluated by them.

Identity confusion is the dispersion of Identity confusion is the dispersion of selves, and the alienation of the self.selves, and the alienation of the self.

The person is not capable of putting energy to The person is not capable of putting energy to concerted use – the person is entropic.concerted use – the person is entropic.

Schizophrenia would be an example of this Schizophrenia would be an example of this fragmentation.fragmentation.

Moratorium refers to a socially approved Moratorium refers to a socially approved period of delay where the person is allowed period of delay where the person is allowed to, or forced to; postpone assumption of the to, or forced to; postpone assumption of the full responsibilities of adult commitments.full responsibilities of adult commitments.

It is both necessary and desirable to allow for It is both necessary and desirable to allow for integration, and the setting of life goals.integration, and the setting of life goals.

Negative identity occurs because any Negative identity occurs because any identity is better than no identity at all.identity is better than no identity at all. An identity perversely based on all those An identity perversely based on all those

identifications and roles which had been identifications and roles which had been presented as most undesirable or presented as most undesirable or dangerous and yet also as most real. dangerous and yet also as most real.

When denied legitimate opportunity to When denied legitimate opportunity to achieve, youths will adopt illegitimate achieve, youths will adopt illegitimate means.means.

Adolescenthood Adolescenthood

Begins with biology and ends by social Begins with biology and ends by social definition.definition.

The task of identity formation can be The task of identity formation can be viewed as the prerequisite for loving and viewed as the prerequisite for loving and working.working.

Peer group: associations with peers are Peer group: associations with peers are extremely necessary experiences.extremely necessary experiences.

Peer groups take over some of the Peer groups take over some of the parental roles of support and value-parental roles of support and value-giving.giving.

An attitude of respect for competence An attitude of respect for competence develops in the peer group.develops in the peer group.

For some, the peer group gains For some, the peer group gains overriding importance, totally replacing overriding importance, totally replacing the family.the family.

The adolescent is an important person in The adolescent is an important person in our culture.our culture.

Economically, the adolescent has the Economically, the adolescent has the status of a part-time worker and a full-status of a part-time worker and a full-time consumer.time consumer.

There is a dual ambivalence that exists There is a dual ambivalence that exists between adults and adolescents.between adults and adolescents. Manifested in the family systemManifested in the family system Parents and youths are torn between wanting Parents and youths are torn between wanting

youths to grow up and wanting them to remain youths to grow up and wanting them to remain children.children.

Adolescenthood requires the culture to make Adolescenthood requires the culture to make adjustments because the generation coming adjustments because the generation coming up has absorbed the past, lives in the up has absorbed the past, lives in the present, and must confront the future with present, and must confront the future with new forms of living constructed of knowledge new forms of living constructed of knowledge and experience not available to their elders.and experience not available to their elders.

As the culture system seeks a steady As the culture system seeks a steady state, its youth component must state, its youth component must interact with, and exchange interact with, and exchange energy/information with other energy/information with other components: age groups, organizations, components: age groups, organizations, institutions, communities, and families.institutions, communities, and families.

In order for this to happen, the culture In order for this to happen, the culture will change (accommodate) or seek to will change (accommodate) or seek to maintain the status quo (assimilate). maintain the status quo (assimilate).