Why I Do What I Do

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Why I Do What I Do
Eileen Hewett
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Personality Theory

• In reflecting on my personality for this
  project, I chose to use
• Erik Eriksons theory of
• Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development
• as my organizing principle

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• Erikson believed that personality develop-
• ment spanned the whole of an individuals life
  rather than just childhood. The life span is
  divided into eight stages and each has a specific
  developmental task that must be resolved.

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In the beginning
Mom and Dad were a perfect World War II
generation couple.
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Stage 1- Early ChildhoodTrust vs. Mistrust

• I was the youngest of three children born in a
  four year period.
• Despite the rapid growth of the family, I always
  felt that I was a loved and wanted part of it.

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Stage 2- ToddlerAutonomy vs. Shame Doubt
Southern California in the early 1950s The
world is a safe place People are considered
to be reliable and basically good. Determination
takes root
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Stage 3- PreschoolerInitiative vs. Guilt
This stage is a time for play, not formal
education When I was four, my brother and
sister were both in school and I got to stay
home with Mom all by myself for the first time
ever. I loved it! Imagination and initiative
were born
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Stage 4- School AgeIndustry vs. Inferiority
Excellence in school was the expectation in our
family- I followed my brother and sisters
example and became an outstanding student This
resulted in a sense of competence.
Our family was deeply involved in the
church, which fostered the development of
spirituality
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Stage 4-School age continued
When I was nine a baby sister was born
and a baby brother when I was 12
These blessed events caused me to move
from youngest child to middle child
It also was the beginning of my capacity as a
caretaker.
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Stage 4-School Age- continued
By age ten I was an active,
energetic, boisterous, sports
loving, Tomboy!
Leadership qualities began to emerge.
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Stage 5- Adolescenceego identity vs. role
confusion

• With the onset of adolescence, I turned from a
• happy, confident youngster into an
• insecure, awkward and hapless teenager.
• I longed to be slim, stylish and socially
  skilled instead I was clunky, chunky and
  ill-at-ease.
• I sulked to sappy love songs on the radio and
• dreamed about having a boyfriend.

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Stage 5-Adolescence continued
I mastered the art of compensation, turning
myself into the proverbial girl with a great
personality. What I felt I lacked in
appearance, I tried to make up for with
friendliness, humor, and an interest in others.
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Stage 5- Adolescence continued
Eventually,

I met an older boy, also
insecure in his own self-regard, who was happy
to be adored by a vivacious, big, girl with an
outgoing friendly, personality.
We dated steadily throughout my high school
years and I was delighted to feel loved. My
confidence began to grow.
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Stage 5-Adolesence- continued
My sweetheart enlisted in the Marines in 1968,
the year I graduated from high school. By
December of that year, when I was 18, we became
engaged.
In my heart, I began to question the
narrow scope of the life I was about to
undertake. There was a lot happening in the
world in 1968 and I had not sampled much of it
at all
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Stage 5- Adolescence- the last chapter
As my confidence grew, I concluded the
tumultuous years of adolescence. I made the
unpopular decision to break the engagement and
make an earnest attempt to find my own
identity.
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Stage 6-Young AdultIntimacy vs. Isolation
Got Involved
Traveled
Enrolled in college
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Stage 6- Young Adult-continued
I randomly landed a job as a part time bank
teller that led to a career in
banking which has spanned 35 years (so far!)
This fostered a sense of Self sufficiency and
Independence
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Stage 6- Young Adult -continued
The day I passed from youth to adulthood was
clearly delineated. April 17, 1976 the day
my mother died after losing the battle with
cancer She was 51.
My younger brother and sister were 14 and 17
years old. Since that day, I have been their
mom. I came to know the meaning
of Responsibility
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Stage 6-Young Adult-continued
Throughout my 20s, I had several long-term
relationships. The time, place or level of
commitment never quite came into focus.
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Stage 6- Young Adult-continued
In 1977 I moved to my new chosen hometown, Aptos,
CA. Shortly thereafter, I met my future husband.
We were married in December, 1979. A decade of
searching for self-identity, then
Intimacy came to its conclusion.
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Stage 7- Middle AdultGenerativity vs. Stagnation
Generativity is an extension of love into the
future. What better expression of hope than the
birth of a child.
You are my sunshine!
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Stage 7- Middle Adult-continued
Being a parent is a great opportunity for
a do-over of the fun of childhood!
We were later blessed with a son
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Stage 7- Middle Adult-continued
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Stage 7- Middle Adult-continued
A lifetime passes by in a heartbeat
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Stage 8- Old Ageintegrity vs. despair
While this chapter of my life remains to be
written, I foresee it as a time filled with
creativity. I hope for the opportunity
to undertake the many interests that have been
stifled for the sake of practicality and in
the name of responsibility.