Roll Call and Demographic
I am often under the likely-mistaken assumption that all of the subscribers to this site are simply copies of myself reading from different locations. While this is partially true (I have to pump up my Feedburner count somehow), I’m pretty sure at least a couple visitors aren’t me.
In an effort to help me understand who I’m writing for and satiate my curiosity, I am opening up a reader roll call with a twist.
Erik Erikson’s study of human development has created one of the more complete and realistic descriptions we have today:
| Stages | Main Conflict | Typical Question |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | Basic trust versus mistrust | Is my social world predictable and supportive? |
| Toddler (ages 1-3) | Autonomy versus shame and doubt | Can I do things by myself or must I always rely on others? |
| Preschool child (ages 3-6) | Initiative versus guilt | Am I good or bad? |
| Preadolescent (ages 6-12) | Industry versus inferiority | Am I successful or worthless? |
| Adolescent (early teens) | Identity versus role confusion | Who am I? |
| Young adult (late teens and early 20s) | Intimacy versus isolation | Shal I share my life with another person or live alone? |
| Middle adult (late 20s to retirement) | Generativity versus stagnation | Will I succeed in my life, both as a parent and as a worker? |
| Older adult (after retirement) | Ego integrity versus despair | Have I lived a full life or have I failed? |
It seems that I am right on schedule as an early/late teen with perhaps a touch of retirement despair.
Christopher Bowns
Apr 19, 08:39 AM
I’m an odd mix. I’m adolescent, older adult, and a touch middle adult. That’s probably bad as a college sophomore.
Thame
Apr 19, 08:50 AM
Together: “Hi Chris!”
It’s not a perfect separation by any means because I’m sure many people who aren’t older adults are questioning how they have lived so far.
rabsteen
Apr 19, 09:02 AM
middle adult. with an every-so-often splash of ‘who am i?’
Thame
Apr 19, 05:06 PM
Hi rabsteen.
I just had a toddler moment earlier today so I’m starting to wonder about this classification system.
Richard
Apr 20, 03:09 AM
Early 20s, and the classification definitely applies. But I get a lot of preadolescent and a lot of middle adult, too.
I don’t think much authority should be assigned to this system. Far too vague. It gets it in the ballpark, at least, but it relies on stereotypes of the age group to draw the conclusions it draws.
Preschool children are just discovering the differentiation between good and bad. Adolescents are in permananet identity crisis. Older adults, of coure, question their lives to that point.
Everyone knows these things. Don’t they?
Unless I’ve just misunderstood/misinterpreted this completely :)
Rick
Apr 20, 08:18 PM
This fits fairly well for me – as a 22yr old – I would place myself as 3/4 Young Adult “Intimacy versus isolation” and 1/4 Preadolescent “Am I successful or worthless?”
Winston
Apr 21, 09:58 AM
I’m not sure anyone really lives in just one of these categories with linear progression to the next. Age wise, I fall into the Middle Adult group, but on a given day may have moments or experiences or wants or desires or thoughts that bounce from Adolescent all the way to Older Adult. The Middle Adult definition covers a lot of territory and probably could benefit from further subdividing. e.g. – There is a huge difference of focus between late-20s singles or young married folks and empty-nesters in their 50s but still active and working.
Thame
Apr 21, 12:59 PM
I agree. Maybe I should have just left the stages out and kept the conflicts…
Tom Martin
Apr 21, 05:55 PM
I’ve got mostly late teens, but preadolescent and early teen conflicts up there as well. The toddler one happens to me too sometimes.
Thame
Apr 22, 06:14 PM
Hi Tom,
I think we’ve all experience these stages at some point in our lives. Maybe the stages represent the questions we face on a daily basis in each period?
Pat Collins
Apr 27, 07:19 AM
This is dead on from an early 20’s perspective. Scary.