Introduction:

The discussion forum topic is an assignment to be submitted for a grade.  This is the fifth of ten discussion forum topics to be submitted during the semester.  This is a two part assignment.  Part 1 is to submit a response worth up to 4 points, and Part 2 is to reply to at least two of your classmates’ responses worth up to 1 point, for a total of up to 5 points for the assignment.  Read the directions carefully and read the grading rubric, then compose your response and submit your response by clicking Reply.     

Directions: 

Part 1:

In chapter 6, you learned about the first two stages of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development, attachment, and temperament.  Now it is time to discuss the material.  To show your understanding of the information that you have learned, create a fictitious child and describe the fictitious child by selecting one of the two stages of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, explaining the stage, and including the fictitious child’s attachment pattern with their mother, and the child’s temperament.    

Tasks: 

1. Create a fictitious child with a gender and an age.   

2. Explain the fictitious child’s psychosocial development using one of Erkison’s first two stages of development.

3. Describe the fictitious child in terms of an attachment pattern by stating an attachment pattern and how the child fits the attachment pattern.    

4. Describe the fictitious child in terms of a temperament pattern by stating a temperament pattern and how the child’s temperament fits the pattern.    

5. Reply to two classmates’ responses.

Sample of Good Work: 

For example, if you created a fictitious female child, then you could say that little Suzie is 11 months old, and in Erik Erikson’s first stage of psychosocial development, facing the psychosocial crisis of trust versus mistrust.  Her mother is warm, caring, responsible, and responsive to Suzie’s needs.  Suzie learns that her mother is there for her, and Suzie resolves the psychosocial crisis in a healthy manner, by developing a sense of trust.  Contributing to this sense of trust is the positive relationship that Suzie has with her mother, whereby she crawls away, looks back to make sure her mother is there, and ventures even farther away, knowing that she can return to the safety of her mother when she has finished exploring her environment.  Suzie’s attachment with her mother could be described as secure.  Coupled with a secure attachment and a sense of trust, Suzie has a sunny disposition, smiles easily, is a happy baby, and readily accepts new foods, new clothing, and new locations in which to play.  Suzie could be said to have a temperament that could be described as an easy baby.      

The purpose of the discussion forum topic is to apply the course material to the real world and to your own life by giving examples that are meaningful to you.  This is due by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.  Please see the Grading Rubric for Discussion Forum Topic.

This discussion forum topic ties into Student Learning Outcome (SLO) 1:

Student Learning Outcomes 1.  Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical constructs among the 4 main areas of human development (Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional) throughout the lifespan.

This discussion forum topic ties into Course Objectives 1, 6, 9, and 10:

Course Objective 1.  Discuss the classical theoretical approaches to understanding human development across the lifespan. 

Course Objective 6.  Explain and discuss the 8 stages of psychosocial development proposed by Erik Erikson. 

 Course Objective 9.  Explain the various styles of parenting, discipline, and attachment. 

 Course Objective 10.  Distinguish among the three types of temperament. 

This discussion forum topic ties into Learning Objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4: 

Learning Objective 1.  Explain Erik Erikson’s first two stages of psychosocial development.

Learning Objective 2.  Discuss aspects of Erik Erikson’s first two stages of psychosocial development.

Learning Objective 3.  Explain the concept of attachment.

Learning Objective 4.  Distinguish between three temperament patterns.

Part 2:  

After submitting a response to the discussion forum topic, view your classmates’ responses and reply to at least two classmates’ response by asking a question, answering a question, offering a suggestion, giving praise, agreeing, politely disagreeing, providing encouragement, sharing a story, or offering a comment.  This is due by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.  Please see the Grading Rubric for the Discussion Forum Topic.