E. Erikson analyzes identity not just as a personal structure formed or not formed under the influence of internal or external factors. It is worth noting that they influence the development of a person and largely determine the form and content of his social interactions throughout their life (Maree, 2021). However, the psychologist distinguishes identity as a form of personal being, which unites at the subjective level the inner world of a person and the outer world into a single psychosocial system. Erikson justifies the concept of stages of psychosocial personality development by noting that each age stage concludes with either a favorable or unfavorable resolution of a crisis.
A satisfactory overcoming of a crisis means the transition of a person to the next stage of life and therefore is associated with the positive development of personality. The transition of a person to a new stage of life with the existence of complexes and issues from the previous stage is known as unfavorable overcoming of a problem situation (Gross, 2020). However, it is not possible to go through all the stages only successfully in real life. Each person has all the prerequisites for the emergence of an intrapersonal conflict, which E. Erikson classifies as a crisis of psychosocial development (Susman, 2022). That is why it is necessary to consider this theory in various aspects, allowing for assessing the condition of employees and candidates.
As a result of favorable crisis resolution, identity components are formed. They relate both to the internal needs of personal development and the essential elements of social tradition. They are materialized in the form of social values and meanings; that is, the social situation of development is demonstrated (Darling-Fisher, 2018). The acquisition of a distinctive ego-force by a person is required for the successful resolution of each crisis of developing personality. This energy, which people spend in the necessary institutions of society as part of the process of social functioning, supports the latter’s viability. At the same time, at each level of growth, distinct reference figures and groups serve as a direct route for such constant exchange.
Erickson suggested that there are psychological stages of the development of the “Self”, during which individuals establish basic guidelines concerning themselves and their social environment. These guidelines remain throughout a person’s life as motivators of activity and resources that a person turns to (Azarfar et al., 2019). Going through the stages indicated by Erikson, overcoming these crises, the personality develops a certain amount of mental energy for this overcoming. Moreover, this potential for overcoming remains in a person’s later life (Bharati, 2022). If a person has not yet reached adulthood due to a young age, this does not mean that, for example, they cannot strive for mentoring or do not think about the meaning of their life.
Thus, in any social environment, including a professional, a person allocates his significant landmarks depending on the mental energy concentrated in the crisis zone. If a person, being at their workplace, and performing their work, can rely on the values, if candidates’ mental energy finds an acceptable way out of the crisis zone, then the professional system is a resource for them (Towler, 2022). On the other hand, it can negatively impact without providing conditions and opportunities for productive work (Jackson et al., 2022). In order to determine meaningful guidelines for employees and candidates, Assessment Centers should pay attention to the psychological stages highlighted by Erikson.
Reference List
Azarfar, A., Alishiri, M., Mohamadi, M. (2019) The effects of the consistency of situation on the advantages of the candidates in evaluation centers, Journal of Research in Human Resources Management, 10(4), pp. 1-24.
Bharati, K. (2022). Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development: Why is it still relevant today? [online] Medindia.
Darling-Fisher, C. (2018) Application of the modified Erikson psychosocial stage inventory: 25 years in review. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 41(3), pp.431-458.
Gross, Y. (2020) Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development. The Wiley Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, pp.179-184.
Jackson, D., Lance, C. and Hoffman, B. (2022) The psychology of assessment centers. Routledge.
Maree, J. (2021). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: Critical overview. Early Child Development and Care, 191(7-8), pp.1107-1121.
Susman, D. (2022). Understanding Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development [online] Verywell Mind.
Towler, J. (2022) Psychology in the workplace – Creative organizational design. [online] Creative Organizational Design.