And, if you extrapolate the Erickson's stages to adults, you can get a glimpse of how many of our "adults" have gotten stuck at a stage in their own development. 

The fifth stage - adolescence - is typically ages 12-18, and centers on identity vs role confusion. The sixth stage - young adulthood - ages 18 to 35 centers on intimacy and solidarity. If one doesn't progress through these stages successfully, they may not be able to break away from pleasing others (I "wanted to breastfeed" but my mom wouldn't let me) or a mother who isolates herself from her baby/children and cannot form a strong bond.

It may not actually help the LC move the mother along her stages, but it may help with the frustration many of us feel at facing a mother who is unable to "get" being a mother. 

Because we're at a stage where there are so many mothers, who as infants, were neglected during their infancy and therefore did not progress positively through stage one (trust vs mistrust), there is no wonder they're having difficulty with the later stages.

Even in cardiac nursing, it always comes back to Erickson :)

Best wishes,
Sam Doak
Marietta OH

<<

I have found that referring parents to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development gives so evidenced based discredit to the whole "Sleep Training & Scheduled Feedings" mentality - the following is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson's_stages_of_psychosocial_development

"Trust vs. Mistrust (Infants, 0 to 1 year)
Psychosocial Crisis: Trust vs. Mistrust 
Virtue: Hope 
The first stage, which corresponds to Freud's oral stage, centers around the infant's basic needs being met by the parents. The infant depends on the parents, especially the mother, for food, sustenance, and comfort. The child's relative understanding of world and society come from the parents and their interaction with the child. If the parents expose the child to warmth, regularity, and dependable affection, the infant's view of the world will be one of trust. Should the parents fail to provide a secure environment and to meet the child's basic need a sense of mistrust will result.

According to Erikson, the major developmental task in infancy is to learn whether or not other people, especially primary caregivers, regularly satisfy basic needs. If caregivers are consistent sources of food, comfort, and affection, an infant learns trust- that others are dependable and reliable. If they are neglectful, or perhaps even abusive, the infant instead learns mistrust- that the world is in an undependable, unpredictable, and possibly dangerous place."

Lisa Hughes RN, IBCLC/RLC
Baptist Hospital East
Louisville KY>>

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