Week 2: The Needs of Many

Freud's stages of development focus on the subconscious and the role it plays in the development of people. The subconscious drives the person to seek out their wants. The stages describe how people development into a functioning human being. The Oral Stage focuses on the mouth and the needs to eat, bite, etc. The Anal Stage focuses on the toilet training while the phallic stage focuses on healthy, sexual development. The Latency Stage is where the ego begins to be most active. A person starts to control their emotions and try to assimilate in society. The Genital Stage focuses on finding and building relationships with others outside of their family.

Freud's theory is one the most interesting ones that I have studied. I was always interested in the battles that one's id and superego went through on a day to day basis. I do not really agree with all the latent sexual feelings that Freud pushes with this method, I do see strong evidence that the unconscious is important in people's development. I tend to constantly think about some of the defense mechanisms that people have. I go back to one that I have noticed in myself. When dealing with a somber topic, like death for example, I have the tendency to make jokes about whatever situation I am. I suppose it can be that subconsciously, I am afraid of the topic and I want to change it to a less serious one.

Erikson's psychosocial crisis brought back examples of crisis that I had growing up. It also  helped me realize that with every resolved crisis, came an everlasting ideology that is present in me today. I feel that the crisis of basic trust vs. mistrust seems to be relevant also during the young adulthood stage. There you hope to come out with love as the resolution but ine first must place trust in someone that isn't a lifelong family member.

I would place myself in the Self-Esteem needs level in Maslow's hierarchy. I am an adult with healthy relationships and a job where students see me as an aide in a classroom. Thinking a little harder, I can also see myself between the Safety level and the Love and Belongings level. I am responsible for my surrounding the loved ones who are in it. I want to be loved and connected but at the same time I am scred of taking big risks that may harm myself and those around me. I want to think that you can move between levels as you grow up. Thoughts?