How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 246
Erikson called these successful balanced outcomes 'Basic Virtues' or
'Basic Strengths'. He identified one particular word to represent the
fundamental strength gained at each stage, which appear commonly in
Erikson's diagrams and written theory, and other explanations of his
work. Erikson also identified a second supporting 'strength' word at
each stage, which along with the basic virtue emphasised the main
healthy outcome at each stage, and helped convey simple meaning in
summaries and charts. Examples of basic virtues and supporting
strengths words are 'Hope and Drive' (from stage one, Trust v Mistrust)
and 'Willpower and Self-Control' (from stage two, Autonomy v Shame &
Doubt). It's very useful however to gain a more detailed understanding
of the meaning behind these words because although Erikson's choice
these words is very clever, and the words are very symbolic, using just
one or two words alone is not adequate for truly conveying the depth of
the theory, and particularly the emotional and behavioural strengths
that arise from healthy progression through each crisis. More detail
about basic virtues and strengths is in the Basic Virtues section.
Erikson was sparing in his use of the word 'achieve' in the context of
successful outcomes, because it implied gaining something clear-cut
and permanent. Psychosocial development is not clear-cut and is not
irreversible: any previous crisis can effectively revisit anyone, albeit in
a different guise, with successful or unsuccessful results. This perhaps
helps explain how 'high achievers' can fall from grace, and how
'hopeless failures' can ultimately achieve great things. No-one should
become complacent, and there is hope for us all.
Later in his life Erikson was keen to warn against interpreting his
theory into an 'achievement scale', in which the crisis stages represent
single safe achievement or target of the extreme 'positive' option,
secured once and for ever. Erikson said (in Identity and the Life Cycle):
"...What the child acquires at a given stage is a certain ratio between
the positive and negative, which if the balance is toward the positive,
will help him to meet later crises with a better chance for unimpaired
total development..."
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