Self-Awareness
- Outline the following developmental stages (Do not provide just a list of the stages, include a brief overview of its’ tenets/concepts)
Erik Erikson stages of development
There are various stages of development, which vary depending on the theorists. One of the theorists is Erickson, who believed that the personality of people develops in stages. The following are the stages of development, according to Erickson.
The first stage is trust versus mistrust. This is the stage that occurs between birth and one year. This is a stage that is most critical in the development of a child since the child is entirely dependent, and they develop trust depending on the quality and the reliability of the people taking care of him (Amidon, Monroe & Ortwein, n.d.).
The second stage is autonomy versus shame and doubt. This stage occurs during early childhood and is where the child develops some sense of control. It is a stage at which the child starts to be in control of themselves. The child begins to make simple decisions, and they also show what they like.
The third stage is the initiative versus guilt. This stage occurs during the preschool years. This stage is characterized by children starting to assert their power, and they become more in control of their world. At this stage, the child can direct play and also influence some form of social interaction. The child who gets the right skills can lead others while those that do not develop guilt, lack of initiative and they have self-doubts (Amidon, Monroe, & Ortwein, n.d.).
The fourth stage is the industry versus inferiority. This stage occurs at the age of 5 to 11 years, where the child is in the early school years. At this stage, the child can develop a sense of pride if he accomplishes something, and he can appreciate their abilities. The child who is encouraged and commended by parents and teachers develop competence, and he believes in his skills. Those that do not get the affirmation will have doubts in their abilities.
The fifth stage is identity versus confusion. This stage occurs after the child has reached the teenage years. The child develops his identity and personality, and this shapes his behavior and development for the rest of his life. A child who gets encouragement at this stage emerge with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence. The others remain unsure of themselves, confused and insecure.
The sixth stage is intimacy versus isolation. This stage occurs when a child is exploring his personal relationships. A successful child can form relationships that will endure and secure. The one who fails will suffer from emotional isolation, despair, and probably loneliness.
The seventh stage is generativity versus stagnation. This stage occurs during adulthood when the person is focusing on family and career. The successful person will feel that he is contributing to the world by being active, while the one who fails feels detached and unproductive in the world.
The eighth stage is integrity versus despair. This stage occurs during old age when the person is reflecting on his life, and he determines whether he is happy with his life or regrets what was not achieved.
Jean Piaget
According to Piaget, there are four stages of development. The first stage is the sensorimotor stage. This stage takes place between birth and two years. In this stage, the infant can learn about their world through movement and perceptions. The child can learn some basic actions that include listening, seizing, observing, and sucking (Cherry, 2020).
The second stage is the preoperational stage. The child, in this stage, can use words and pictures to describe a phenomenon. The child is egocentric and struggles to perceive things from the viewpoint of others.
The third stage is the concrete operational stage, which occurs between the ages of 7-11 years. A child at this stage will be able to think logically about events in his life. His thinking becomes organized and more logical (Cherry, 2020).
The fourth stage is the formal operational stage. The child can think in the abstract, and theoretically as they deal with problems (Cherry, 2020). They are more concerned about their morals, ethics, and political issues.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
Kohlberg identified three levels of moral development. The first level is the pre-conventional stage. At this stage, the sense of morality in a child is controlled externally. The child believes the instructions he gets from authoritative figures.
The second level is the conventional stage, where his social and personal relationships determine their morality. However, the child still goes one to obey the rules given by the authoritative figures (Amidon, Monroe, & Ortwein, n.d.).
The third level is the post-conventional level, where abstract values and principles determine the morals of a person. In this stage, people believe that some rules should be changed or, in some instances, eliminated. In this stage, the person is a distinct entity, and he is likely to disobey any rule that goes against his values.
- Professional roles in child/family services
A forensic social worker has been defined as the use of social work principles to problems, issues, and questions that concern the legal systems and the law. Forensic social workers are involved with the litigations that include issues dealing with neglect of children, abuse of a spouse, adult justice services, and civil disputes. Forensic social workers apply their legal knowledge as they work within the court system, agencies that deal with drug abusers, correctional services, mental health, and faith-based institutions. The forensic social workers have a duty of identifying the criminal populations and making recommendations about their mental status; they serve as witnesses and directing the defendants to community resources. They are also involved in advocacy programs within the legal justice system.
Child advocacy centers are institutions that are child friendly that provide a secure and neutral environment where law enforces, and other investigative agencies can conduct their forensics interviews and observations on children who are suspected of crimes (Hardy, 2019). The primary aim is to ensure that children are safeguarded from trauma by guaranteeing that discipline is brought together, and there is an efficient sharing of information that reduces the chances of duplication. They also allow for the investigation of the files to ensure that they are produced without errors. There is enhanced communication in these centers, and this certifies that there are little chances of mistakes, and the victims are safeguarded from falling through the cracks. The centers are also vital in ensuring that the multidisciplinary teams meet so that they can deal with the cases of mistreatment (Hardy, 2019). The centers are essential in addressing the needs of the child, including their mental health, legislative issues, educational and medical concerns. They also ensure that children receive the necessary care as the investigations take place.
A CASA is a volunteer who works as the eyes and the ears of the court. They are involved in the independent investigation and reporting of the circumstances that the manager or the court assigns them. They are involved in the reporting of what is in the best interest of the child and thus are concerned in advocating for safe and permanent living conditions. The CASA volunteers spend a significant amount of time knowing the child, and they also review the records that concern the case (Foster, 2017). They also interview the child, the family members, and any other person who may be involved in the case. By doing this, the CASA can determine the facts and the issues that surround the cases. They are also involved in working with attorneys and other social works to ensure that the children are safe if they are placed in foster care. The CASA volunteers may not be the foster parents, but they are the voices that make the actual difference in issues that involve a critical turning point in the lives of children. Therefore, CASA workers spend a significant amount of time dealing with the welfare of children in the legal system to guarantee that their best interest is upheld (Foster, 2017).
References
Amidon, J., Monroe, A., & Ortwein, M. (n.d.). Education, Society, & the K-12 Learner. Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/teachereducationx92x1/chapter/kohlbergs-stages-of-moral-development/
Cherry, K. (2020, March 31). What Are Piaget’s Four Stages of Development? Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457
Foster, A. (2017). What Is a CASA Worker? Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://adoption.org/what-is-a-casa-worker
Hardy, R. (2019, December 10). What is forensic social work? Retrieved June 7, 2020, from https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2018/08/22/forensic-social-work/