The Theories Of Erik Erikson & Jean Piaget, Essay Example

While there are similarities in Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Erik Erikson’s development stages, there are also a number of differences. Piaget theorized that children are born with the most basic of mental structures that are based on inherited traits. The theory is primarily based on development, and does not center on actual learning. It is centered on the fact that children develop knowledge and who they become through their understanding of the world around them as well as their experiences. Piaget’s theory identifies a child between the ages of two through six or seven as the Preoperational Stage. During the Preoperational stage the child is most able to learn by engaging representative objects such as words, images and drawings. Those images and words have meaning and while the child understands that meaning, they are not able to manipulate or engage in giving a secondary meaning, during this stage. This is because they have not yet mastered the ability to interject logical differences. While during this stage children are capable of engaging in imaginary plan, they are not capable of logical thought. It is not until the entrance of the concrete Operational Stage, which is between the ages of seven and twelve years of age, that the child is able to independently acquire information and develop a more logical thought process. During this stage, children exhibit more complex thoughts and are able to engage in more complex physical play as well. They are more able to decipher between reality and fantasy, as well as become more able to develop their own identity. Children, during this stage are able to sort objects, identify relationships between objects or relationships, classify and reverse the role of objects and understand that relationship.

The most basic tenant of Piaget’s theory of development was based on children developing their own theories about themselves in relation to their environment and their use of schemas to learn more about their environment and how that information allowed the child to develop.

Erik Erikson detailed eight stages of psychosocial development in order to explain how children develop and become who they are into adulthood. Erikson theorized that children during the first year of their life were taxed with the trust versus mistrust stage, where they developed confidence, bonding and security with their caregivers. Between the ages of one and three years of age, they moved toward the completion of the autonomy versus shame stage, whereas they learned to make choices, play with toys and maneuver their world or environment. During the initiative versus guilt stage, which is between the ages of three and six, the child is learning more about fantasy and imagination, asserting themselves and engaging in more imaginative play. As the child moves into adolescents, Erikson suggested that they are learning more about who they are, becoming independent and looking toward their future as an independent adult. In adulthood, individuals are in the stage of intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation and ego integrity versus despair. These stages detail the individual and their need for commitment and love, as well as developing a feeling of contentness with their lives.

Differences In The Theories

Both Erikson and Piaget theorized that children developed in a particular order. While Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development, Erikson suggested that there were eight stages of psychosocial development. Piaget research was based more on the physical and mental development of the child, and Erikson research was more concerned with the child’s social development and interaction. Piaget theory was based more on cognitive development, while Erikson’s theory was more concerned with how children socialize within their own environment

Erikson’s theory dictates that in order for the child to successfully move to the next stage of development that they first had to master their previous stage. If they failed to master that stage they would develop unhealthily personality issues or even have a difficult time in distinguishing their sense of self-worth or beliefs. Piaget seemed to believe that the stages were based more on the age range, while Erikson, suggested that the particular stages could be developed at different times. For example, Piaget suggested that children’s reasoning skills greatly differed from the preoperational to concrete stages, which was based on age. Erikson suggested that a child may not master the trust versus mistrust stage at a particular age, but they could later complete that stage, at a later time in their life. Piaget’s theory focuses more on the intricate workings of growth and development, while Erikson focused more on the social structure of the individual, themselves.  While Piaget theorized that children are egocentric, Erikson theorized that children were moving toward a wider social environment.  Piaget only focused on the development and acquiring of information for children, while Erikson’s theorized the stages from infant to adulthood.

Theories Similarities

Both theorists believed that stages were identified by age and what children could do at that particular stage. Each seemed to agree that children’s minds develop at basically the same ages; however the difference is the distinct pace at which this happens. Both are based on time span and ages, even though Piaget’s theory of development is based more on larger time spans, while Erikson stream lined this theory into smaller portions of time. Both theorists suggest that play and imagination is important. While Piaget suggested that the use of imagination in play is a manner to overcome egocentrism, Erikson felt that play was a means by which to work through conflict and provides a safe place where children could explore their surroundings. Each believed that play would also assist the child in self teaching techniques that furthered their next representative stage. Erikson’s school age and Paget’s concrete operational stage also overlap in the fact that children are building confidence and competence in their own abilities, as well as physical abilities.

Importance Of Both Theories

Both theories have tenants from psychology past, and have also greatly influence the theories used today. Piaget’s theory has allowed important developments to the educational process that children are currently subjected to. Educators are more able to identify the learning stages and development of children at particular ages. This assists in the implementation of teaching techniques, testing, learning environment and how a child’s environment may hinder the learning process. The need of particular developmental stages also allow for the improved understanding of learning as a life time process.

Erikson’s theory of development is important to the field of psychology because of its explanation of individual’s personalities and changes that they go through in their lives. It helps to explain these changes and how individuals can stagnate in their lives. If they have difficulty completing one of the stages, it makes sense that they would struggle to achieve a higher stage. This is especially important when people are faced with abusive homes or environments that have stunted their development and growth.

In conclusion, both Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget had very detailed and well researched theories of development. They both suggested that the manner by which children learn and develop were based on stages or patterns. While their theories overlap at some points, as far as age ranges, they differ in the pace by which children develop or mature. Both are very important to understanding the development of children and how they acquire information to build their own self-perception, as well as move into a more developed life stages. The theories give a good reference and most basic understanding of how individuals develop and use information from their own environment or surrounding to develop their own skills and beliefs. It is important to understand that both theories have assisted researchers through the years in identifying how children learn, acquire information and develop life skills. These theories are used to assist in identifying the problems of personality and development in adults and what developmental stage that they did not move past.