Theories of Growth & Development

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Middle Adulthood (35-65 yrs)

Generativity vs Stagnation

This theory describes the human life cycle as a series of 8 ego developmental stages from birth to death

Erik Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development: 11+ yrs

Formal Operations Stage

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Adolescence (12-20 yrs)

Identity vs Role Confusion

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: School Age (6-12 yrs)

Industry vs Inferiority

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Late Childhood (3-6 yrs)

Initiative vs Guilt

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Later Adulthood (65 yrs to death)

Integrity vs Despair

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Early Adulthood (20-35 yrs)

Intimacy vs Isolation

Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development: 2-7 yrs

Preoperational Stage

Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development: Ages 0-2 yrs

Sensorimotor Stage

A nursing teacher asks a student to describe the formal operations stage of Piaget's cognitive developmental theory. The appropriate response by the student is: A) "The child has the ability to think abstractly." B) "The child begins to understand the environment." C) "The child is able to classify, order, & sort facts." D) "The child learns to think in terms of past, present, & future."

A) "The child has the ability to think abstractly." In the formal operations stage, the child has the ability to think abstractly & logically.

The mother of a 4 y/o calls the clinic nurse & expresses concern b/c the child has been masturbating. Using Freud's psychosexual stages of development, the appropriate response by the nurse is which of the following? A) "This is a normal behavior at this age." B) "Children usu begin this behavior at 8 y/o." C) "This is not normal behavior, the child should be seen by the physician." D) "The child is very young to begin this behavior & should be brought to the clinic."

A) "This is a normal behavior at this age." According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, between the ages of 3 & 6 the child is in the phalic stage. At this time, the child devotes much energy to examining his/her genitalia, masturbating, & expressing interest in sexual concerns.

A maternity nurse is providing instructions to a new mother regarding the psychosocial development theory, the nurse instructs the mother to: A) Allow the newborn infant to signal a need B) Anticipate all the needs of the newborn infant C) Attend to the infant immediately when crying D) Avoid the infant during the 1st 10 mins of crying

A) Allow the newborn infant to signal a need According to Erikson, the caregiver should not try to anticipate the newborn infant's needs at all times but must allow the infant to signal needs. If a newborn infant is not allowed to signal a need, the newborn will not learn how to control the environment. Erikson believed that a delayed or prolonged response to a newborn infant's signal would inhibit the development of trust and lead to mistrust of others.

(SATA:) A nurse educator is preparing to conduct a session to the nursing staff regarding the theories of growth & development & plans to discuss Kohlberg's theory of moral development. Which of the following should be included in the session? A) Individuals move through all 6 stages in a sequential fashion B) Moral development progresses in relationship to cognitive development C) A person's ability to make moral judgments develops over a period of time D) The theory provides a framework for understanding how individuals determine a moral code to guide their behavior E) In stage 1 (punishment-obedience orientation), children are expected to reason as mature members of society F) In stage 2 (instrumental relativist orientation), the child conforms to rules to obtain rewards or have favors returned

Answers: B, C, D, F Kohlberg's theory states that individuals move through the 6 stages of development in a sequential fashion but that not everyone reaches stages 5 & 6 in his or her development of personal morality. The theory provides framework for understanding how individuals determine a moral code to guide their behavior. It states that moral development progresses in relationship to cognitive development & that a person's ability to make moral judgments develops over a period of time. In stage 1, ages 2-3, children cannot reason as mature members of society. In stage 2, ages 4-7, the child conforms to rules to obtain rewards or have favors returned.

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Early Childhood (18 mos to 3 yrs)

Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt

A mother of a 3 y/o tells a clinic nurse that the child is rebelling constantly & having temper tantrums. Using Erikson's psychosocial development therory, the nurse tells the mother to: A) Set limits on the child's behavior B) Ignore the child when this behavior occurs C) Allow the behavior, b/c it's normal at this age period D) Punish the child every time the child says "no" to change the behavior

A) Set limits on the child's behavior According to Erikson, the child focuses on gaining some basic control over self & the environment & independence between ages 1-3 yrs. Gaining independence often means that the child has to revel against the parents' wishes. Saying things like "no" or "mine" & having temper tantrums are common during this period of development. Being consistent & setting limits on the child's behavior are necessary elements. Options B & C do not address the child's behavior. Option D is likely to produce a negative response during this normal development pattern.

A nursing instructor asks a student to present a clinical conference to peers regarding Freud's psychosexual stages of development, specifically the anal stage. The student plans the conference, knowing that which of the following most appropriate relates to this stage of development? A) This stage is assoc w/ toilet training B) This stage is characterized by gratification of self C) This stage is characterized by a tapering off of conscious biological & sexual urges D) This stage is associated with pleasurable & conflicting feelings about the genital organs

A) This stage is assoc w/ toilet training Generally, toilet training occurs during the anal stage. According to Freud, the child gains pleasure from the elimination of feces & from their retention.

The mother of an 8 y/o child tells the clinic nurse that she is concerned about the child b/c the child seems to be more attentive to friends than anything else. Using Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the appropriate nursing response is which of the following? A) "You need to be concerned." B) "You need to monitor the child's behavior closely." C) "At this age, the child is developing his own personality." D) "You need to provide more praise to the child to stop this behavior."

C) "At this age, the child is developing his own personality." According to Erikson, during school-age yrs (6-12 y/o), the child begins to move toward peers & friends & away from the parents for support. The child also begins to develop special interests that reflect his/her own developing personality instead of the parents.

Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development: 7-11 yrs

Concrete Operational Stage

A clinic nurse is preparing to discuss the concepts of moral development with a mother. The nurse understands that according to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, in the preconventional level, moral development is thought to be motivated by which of the following? A) Peer pressure B) Social pressures C) Parent's behavior D) Punishment & reward

D) Punishment & Reward In the preconventional stage, morals are thought to be motivated by punishment & reward. If the child is obedient & is not punished, then the child is being moral. The child sees actions as good or bad. If the child's actions are bad, the child is punished.

Erikson's Stage of Psychosocial Development seen in: Infancy (birth to 18 mos)

Trust vs Mistrust