Analysis of an Infant Development Using Theories of Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson

According to Piaget's observations and criticism, Piaget believed that cognitive development was a way of adapting to the environment and children are constantly interested in understanding and exploring things. According to his theory implements that children are born with a basic mental structure and is the result of evolution and genetics, this structure is what learning and knowledge is derived from.

If we analyze the subject that I interview, the moment I asked if he already had any idea of what he was going to study, EA was nervous and insecure. He also told me that he would like to study something that generates money, implying that he does not like a medical career, but what it gains. According to the fourth stage of Piaget's development theory, EA can think in abstract terms and accept or reject his decisions by admitting that he is interested in that career because it generates high incomes. The fact that in question 6 EA admitted that he doesn’t have good grades because he dedicates himself more to socializing than to paying attention, determines that he is able to go beyond what is happening in the present and understand things in terms of cause and effect. For this in the stage of formal operations is very significant since EA has the knowledge to consider realities and develop his own rules and that their consequences are his responsibility.

According to the psychoanalytic theory of Erik Erikson, in the stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion is generated in the adolescence stage. The young man begins to ask and to find out his identity. EA demonstrates his concern for his future, is more independent and focuses on timeshare with his friends. Although EA is focused for the moment on having a job that generates high income, it shows its exploration of its identity and development of independence. It is normal to feel this type of confusion at that age, that is a sign that he is developing his own identity.

During this interview and what I have read about the development and its theories, I consider that the development of EA is very normal for his age. He answered the questions consistently, clearly and precisely. He constantly focused on his childhood and told anecdotes about it even though he did not live in the best conditions or in the best place. This shows how well the parents have explained all the possible questions that EA may have had at some point. It is very important to emphasize that the parents of EA have been a vital importance for his good development. Despite being an adopted child and having lived in conditions not suitable for an infant, he referred to his adoptive family as "we are the perfect family" and his relationship with his friends is healthy and normal for a child of his age. This makes it clear that EA has been taken care of in a healthy home and that, despite his short age, he was able to confront everything and turn those negative moments into anecdotes that he still remembers.