You go through different stages in life. You start out wondering if someone is going to feed you on a regular basis. Then, you gain some words and start wondering how far you can go before someone tells you to shush. Shortly after, you’re zipping around in a car and there are no adults in sight. Then you move on and get a desk-job. Life happens.
All along these stages, your expectations change. You ask yourself different questions and live your life with different rules.
A psychologist named Erik Erikson extensively studied these stages and came up with a nice summary. His results detail the age ranges, the biggest troubles for each age, what main life questions are asked, and how society plays into it all. I threw a chart together to capture the gist of his work. Below is a small piece – the full Erikson Psychosocial Development Chart is linked a little later in the article.
These are the things that the world expects of you. This is the pattern that can help you with issues and guide your actions. See how this applies to you for planning, understanding, and overcoming challenges. It’s not the rulebook, but it is a good guide.
Age Stages and Not Being Bound
Of course, this brings up an important point. This age stage chart doesn’t mean squat, if you want to be more. You are not bound by someone else’s research. Statistics are just a bunch of numbers. You can break the mold, be the outlier, and achieve as much as you want.
The information is here to help – don’t ever let it hold you back. You are smarter, more capable, and more passionate about your life than anyone else. This is just a start – a good jump-up for those that need it. This is the beginning of your journey.
Learn. Do. Grow. Be. Teach. Be the trailblazer. We need you.
Click Here to get the Full Version of the Erikson Psychosocial Development Chart.
| Photo by: aroid |