A Miracle Unfolding

The Institute for Personality and Ability Testing has certified Robert Fettgather as a Stress Management Trainer, and Medical Hypnosis Seminars of the Los Gatos Institute has certified him in Clinical Hypnotherapy. An instructor at Mission College, Robert Fettgather teaches classes in psychology.

There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of vigorous unfolding--Erik Erikson.

Children from 2 to 6  go from oppositional toddlers (the "terrible twos") who  isolate in solitary play to being skilled, and often cooperative playmates by age 5 or 6. Indeed, compare a two year old and a 6 year old and note their vast differences to see what I mean. 

Here we will briefly review the work of two psychoanalytic theorists. Freud and Erikson each described two stages of personality development in early childhood. Let's start with Freud. Remember, for Freud, each stage (oral, the anal, the phallic, the latent, and the genital)  is characterized by an erogenous zone and libido.  Freud described two stages during the preschool years. The first, the anal stage, is dominant between ages 1 and 3 (the ego is developing in this period). Here the child experiences pleasurable sensation of the bowel and bladder. This stage is significant because it typically coincides with the parents’ desire to toilet train the child. Conflicts may arise! 

The phallic stage occurs between ages 3 and 5, during which the Oedipus conflict emerges wherein a boy feels like he is in competition with his father for "possession" of his mother. Resolution of the conflict comes in identification with the same-sex parent. The superego is developing during this stage. Freud suggested that to successfully resolve the Oedipus conflict, relationships between the child and both parents had to be warm and loving. The Oedipus Complex derives its name from a character from Greek Tragedy

Erikson’s stages align with Freud's but have a different emphasis.  Erikson believed that change was  triggered by the new, physical, cognitive, or social skills of the child rather than by changes in psychosexuality as  Freud asserted. Erikson’s stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt centers around the toddler’s new mobility and the ego's  desire for autonomy. As we have consistently noted, these are the so-called terrible twos and can be a challenging time for parents who may respond to normal autonomy with strict and punitive interactions, promoting shame. 

According to Hamachek, adults who developed a healthy sense of autonomy as toddlers:

Like to make their own decisions

Are able to say no without feeling guilty

Resist domination

Like to get things done

Are able to listen to their own inner feelings as they make decisions

Reflection Point: Do you believe autonomy was fostered in your own early childhood? Can you see examples from Hamachek in your adult autonomous behavior?