The theories of development postulate how society can achieve the qualities or changes that are desirable in the best way. These theories are based on various social science disciplines. Numerous scholars have developed methods that explain the development stages of human beings and how these stages influence our character and behavior. According to developmental psychologists, social development occurs in different stages and follows an orderly manner. This study focuses on Erikson’s psychosocial development theory and the steps involved and how it applies to our times. This theory was developed from Freud’s psychosexual theory. Erikson argues that humans are inspired by the necessity to acquire specific abilities within our lives.
According to Erickson, human development goes through eight different stages, from childhood to adulthood. In each step, successful solutions must be found for two conflicting ideas, if a person is to become a valuable member of society. These Erikson’s eight stages are; trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame/doubt, initiative versus inferiority, identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair. These stages, according to Erikson, can be resolved in different ways based on cultural needs.
These development stages have been applied to the present generation, and the “Black Lives Matter movement can explain this.” This is a global movement established in 2013 in the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom to exterminate white supremacy and create a local power to intervene in the violence and injustices against the Black communities by the authorities or state agencies. The movement fights against unpleasant incidents of police brutality and violence fueled by racial discrimination against the African American people.
Over a long time, the black people, having been colonized majorly by the whites, have always felt inferior. On the other hand, the whites have capitalized on this inferiority complex and racially discriminated against the people of color. This is evidenced by slavery and the fact that the black students never attended the same schools or never shared specific resources with the whites. The blacks have therefore grown over a long time, knowing they owe supremacy to the whites. Practices, actions, and laws have been developed in the United States, for instance, that discriminate against certain ethnic groups according to their race or origin.
Linking this to Erikson’s psychosocial development stages, the black people seem to have been stuck at the scene for Erikson’s development, industry versus inferiority stage. At this stage, children compare and gauge themselves against their peers. Based on their self-assessment, they either develop a sense of satisfaction, pride, or accomplishment or feel inferior for failing to measure up. This developed into an inferiority complex among the black race, thus the excellent tolerance for racial injustices against them.
However, there seems to have been a shift from this norm, and the black race has advanced to the succeeding stages of development. Notably, the identity versus the role confusion stage has been accomplished. They have developed a self of sense and known who they are and what purpose or role they have in life. They have come out more reliable and accurate to their values and face life’s challenges as well as other peoples’ perspectives about them by adopting a decisive role. Further, they have successfully managed to overcome the challenging stage of generativity versus stagnation. Through a realization of their life’s work, they have been able to participate in activities that benefit not only themselves but also others, such as volunteering to participate in mass action against racial injustices.
The various demonstrations that have been organized in the United States motivated police brutality against the African-American people. It is a clear manifestation of the shift to break from this norm. These demonstrations began with the acquittal of George Zimmerman, followed by the protests against the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York City in 2014 and finally recent demonstrations against George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police in April 2020 that attracted up to approximately 26 million participants, all successfully organized by Black Lives Matter movement.
Based on the psychological development theory, it can be concluded that the participants have been able to develop over time and have realized their roles and worth. This is the cause of the call for justice and fairness to the African-Americans.
References
About – Black Lives Matter. Retrieved 2020, from https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/.
Black Lives Matter – Wikipedia. Retrieved 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter.
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Distinguishing Between Antifa, the KKK, and Black Lives... Retrieved 2020, from https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/drawing-distinctions-antifa-the-alt-right-and-black-lives-matter/538320/.
Hoare, C. (2002). Erikson, on development in adulthood. Oxford University Press.
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