Erik Erikson's theory of life-span psychosocial development is one of the most prominent in all of human development. As described in this chart, Erikson's theory consists of a set of eight tasks or conflicts. According to the theory, each task must be resolved in a satisfactory manner for the individual to advance to the next stage. The following song summarizes Erikson's theory.
Eight Life Stages to Accomplish (Erikson’s Theory)
Lyrics by Alan Reifman
(May be sung to the tune of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” Paul Simon)
Erikson’s theory, covering the full life span,
How one becomes, the fullest person that they can,
You’ve got to proceed, in accordance with this plan,
It gives you, eight life stages to accomplish,
The first four stages, occur during one’s childhood,
Developing trust and autonomy, one should,
Next come initiative and industry, both are good,
It gives you, eight life stages to accomplish,
Eight life stages to accomplish,
Trust your folks will be there, Claire,
Learn you’re unique, Pete,
Can you satisfy each stage,
As you pass through each age?
Show that you’re able, Mabel,
Interact with your world, Earl,
Can you satisfy each stage,
As you pass through each age?
The last four stages, over decades they are strung,
From adolescence, till your years are nearly done,
You become an adult – and then you guide the young,
Then it’s just reflection,
During the teenage years, you seek your inner core,
You form relationships, much deeper than before,
And then at midlife, you start to share your lore,
There’s not much more, of the stages to complete,
The eight life stages to accomplish,
Form your identity, Lee,
Learn how to relate, Kate,
Can you satisfy each stage,
As you pass through each age?
Teach your children, Ben,
Be life-content, Kent,
Can you satisfy each stage,
As you pass through each age?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Although most of the academic-type song lyrics I've written over the past year have dealt with statistics (here and here), research methodology, and social psychology (the latter, the discipline in which I received my Ph.D), I've also written a few pertaining to human development and family studies, the field in which I have my faculty appointment at Texas Tech University.
The first HDFS lyrics I am posting (below) derive from my experience serving on the dissertation committee of Branden Henline, who received his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Texas Tech. Branden's dissertation drew upon Bowen Family Systems Theory, with which I had previously been unfamiliar. As Branden wrote:
Bowen family systems theory (BFST) is primarily focused on an individual’s capacity to develop self awareness and integrity (i.e., differentiation; Kerr, 1981) and to form and maintain close relationships with important others (Schnarch, 1997). People that have a keen awareness of their personal nature and are able to consistently behave in ways that are congruent with that developed self are said to be highly differentiated. Having developed their individual identity, they are able to share who they are with others (i.e., their thoughts, feelings, wants, goals, actions). Such self-disclosure is a component of intimacy in relationships.
Conversely, people that are poorly differentiated do not develop a strong sense of self awareness or self worth. They tend to be more reactive due to emotional fusion with others, particularly in times of conflict or other emotional intensity (Kerr, 1981). Without that sense of self, poorly differentiated people will become over-involved with others (i.e., fused or enmeshed) or emotionally distant (i.e., emotional cutoff).
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Here is my musical tribute to Bowen Family Systems Theory (Paul Springer, also an MFT student on whose dissertation committee I served, was visiting in my office one afternoon and we batted around some ideas about a Bowen song, so I've given him co-lyricist credit):
Bowen’s Old Systems Theory
Lyrics by Alan Reifman and Paul Springer (inspired by Branden Henline)
(May be sung to the tune of “Proud Mary [Rolling on the River],” John Fogerty)
Self-concept not well developed?
Struggling hard to differentiate?
Do you have close bonds with important people,
To whom you can display your inner traits?
There’s an old systems theory,
That’s sure well worth your query,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Do you fall into triangles,
That characterize the way that you relate?
Want to strengthen your ties, back with your partner?
Gotta do it soon, before it’s too late,
There’s an old systems theory,
That’s sure well worth your query,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
(Instrumental)
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Have trouble with intimacy?
And with forming an identity, too?
It might stem from your origin family,
There’s a literature that suggests what to do,
There’s an old systems theory,
That’s sure well worth your query,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer…
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Further Reading
Miller, R. B., Anderson, S., & Keala, D. K. (2004). Is Bowen theory valid? A review of basic research. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30, 453–466.
The first HDFS lyrics I am posting (below) derive from my experience serving on the dissertation committee of Branden Henline, who received his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Texas Tech. Branden's dissertation drew upon Bowen Family Systems Theory, with which I had previously been unfamiliar. As Branden wrote:
Bowen family systems theory (BFST) is primarily focused on an individual’s capacity to develop self awareness and integrity (i.e., differentiation; Kerr, 1981) and to form and maintain close relationships with important others (Schnarch, 1997). People that have a keen awareness of their personal nature and are able to consistently behave in ways that are congruent with that developed self are said to be highly differentiated. Having developed their individual identity, they are able to share who they are with others (i.e., their thoughts, feelings, wants, goals, actions). Such self-disclosure is a component of intimacy in relationships.
Conversely, people that are poorly differentiated do not develop a strong sense of self awareness or self worth. They tend to be more reactive due to emotional fusion with others, particularly in times of conflict or other emotional intensity (Kerr, 1981). Without that sense of self, poorly differentiated people will become over-involved with others (i.e., fused or enmeshed) or emotionally distant (i.e., emotional cutoff).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is my musical tribute to Bowen Family Systems Theory (Paul Springer, also an MFT student on whose dissertation committee I served, was visiting in my office one afternoon and we batted around some ideas about a Bowen song, so I've given him co-lyricist credit):
Bowen’s Old Systems Theory
Lyrics by Alan Reifman and Paul Springer (inspired by Branden Henline)
(May be sung to the tune of “Proud Mary [Rolling on the River],” John Fogerty)
Self-concept not well developed?
Struggling hard to differentiate?
Do you have close bonds with important people,
To whom you can display your inner traits?
There’s an old systems theory,
That’s sure well worth your query,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Do you fall into triangles,
That characterize the way that you relate?
Want to strengthen your ties, back with your partner?
Gotta do it soon, before it’s too late,
There’s an old systems theory,
That’s sure well worth your query,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
(Instrumental)
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Have trouble with intimacy?
And with forming an identity, too?
It might stem from your origin family,
There’s a literature that suggests what to do,
There’s an old systems theory,
That’s sure well worth your query,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer,
Bowen, Bowen, Bowen’s got the answer…
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further Reading
Miller, R. B., Anderson, S., & Keala, D. K. (2004). Is Bowen theory valid? A review of basic research. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30, 453–466.
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