As you’ve explored in previous modules, Erik Erikson’s
theory of psychosocial dilemmas explores the challenges we either successfully
or unsuccessfully resolve throughout our stages of development. Successful
resolution of a dilemma makes it more likely that future dilemmas will resolve
positively, while unsuccessful resolution makes the positive outcome more
difficult.
This discussion helps you explore the links between dilemmas
and developmental outcomes, while encouraging you to apply this knowledge to
your job and career.
By successfully completing this discussion activity, you
will demonstrate Module Outcome 3: Demonstrate effective, strategies for
preventing or reducing stress, Module Outcome 4: Summarize the difficulties
students face in college, and Module Outcome 5: Explain why people work, and
the elements of a job that bring satisfaction.
Many people believe that earning a college degree is
critical to having a successful career. This discussion asks you to explore
some of these ideas, and to explain how struggles experienced during middle
childhood may be linked to the challenges some individuals face when earning a
college degree.
For maximum points, be sure to respond to both parts.
Part #1:
As you all well know, college can be a challenging time.
Summarize the difficulties many students face in the college experience. Then
review Erikson’s stage of industry versus inferiority, discussed in Chapter 5.
How could his theory help explain a link between experiences in elementary
school and obtaining a college degree? Explain, giving a specific example from
your own life that demonstrates this. As part of this discussion, identify a
specific stressor and tell us an effective method for reducing the negative
impact of the stress.
Part #2:
In the United States, many people define themselves by the
work they do. In many cultures, a person’s job or career are critical pieces of
their identity. Thinking about your own career, current or planned explain what
will satisfy you most about your job(s) and why you yourself will choose to
work (or not). Share a specific strategy, different from the one above, that
has or will help you maintain healthy work-life balance.
