Epigenetic Model Interview

She was very frank about whatever she has gone through and therefore it was very easy for me to identify the accompanied similarities and differences with a view of understanding the relevance and importance of epigenetic model of human development. I only asked eight questions keeping in mind the eight stages that Erikson described in his Epigenetic model of human development. The responses were excellent since there was enough time to explain all her experiences face to face. Trust vs. Mistrust The South African female had passed and reacted in some situation similar and at some point differently during their stages of development. This model brings aboard the similarities in the experiences that the 65 year old female went through at her early age.

Therefore this is a clear justification that she was well taken care of by the parents and furthermore all her basic needs were met and satisfied. But her neglecting strangers was as a result of secondary caregivers not providing her with some basic needs and furthermore being abusive and harsh. This made her develop mistrust upon strangers who are regarded as the secondary caregivers. Autonomy vs. Therefore children whose caregivers are very restrictive make children develop shame and doubt about their possible abilities of handling their own problems With the epigenetic model in place, we observe some similarities between the model and the life experiences of the 65 year old female. The doubt that developed in the female at the early childhood stage was as a result of the parents being too restrictive and harsh to her.

She was therefore never given room to freely explore the surrounding. This made herself doubtful about everything that she does since the parents never encouraged her to do things on her own. Initiative vs. Children at this stage want to do things on their own without the help of anyone and a negative behavior is observed when the outcome is not the one intended. If therefore parents encourage and support children’s efforts, they develop initiative whereas when the parents discourage the children’s effort by dismissing them as bothersome then the children develop guilt. This model outlines some similarities with the 65 year old female who wanted to do things on her own. The guilt was developed when she was unable to do something the same way Erikson highlights in his model.

The parents seemed to be very encouraging to the activities she did as she was able to start and complete some task on her own. At this stage she has fully discovered herself and whatever occupation that she wanted to venture in when she grew up. She also experienced the force of peer pressure from her friends though she overcame all that. That is the stage where she developed a sense of sexual identity and felt like whatever she was being told by others was wrong. Similarities In regard to the Erikson’s epigenetic model, this stage occurs between 13-19 years of age. The group in the age bracket are called the adolescents and they are concerned on how they look.

She was already in a relationship with a man that they feel in love with when they were in adolescent stage. She had made a commitment concerning their marriage life and ready to make any sacrifices that the relationship requires. Differences According to the epigenetic model, this stage runs between 20-39 years of age. People in this bracket feel isolated because of love. Each and every person is desperate for love and therefore isolation comes about as a result of intimacy. On the contrary, any one that do not participate in societal development plans and furthermore does not care about others creates a feeling of stagnation to self. This clearly outline some similarities experienced at this stage since the 65 year old caretaker experienced the same by raising up her family and helping out in the society towards its improvement.