Life Stages OF 50 YearsLife Stages OF 50 Years

By Vincient A.SpearsBy Vincient A.Spears

Play Age:3 to 5Play Age:3 to 5

• The Development Stage: Initiative vs Guilt The Development Stage: Initiative vs Guilt • Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment. Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment.

Success in this stage leads to sense of purpose. The learner was 5 year old in Success in this stage leads to sense of purpose. The learner was 5 year old in 1963 when he past by park car with two young boys in it, the learner got near 1963 when he past by park car with two young boys in it, the learner got near the car and the boys called the learner a” nigger” (Dunn,NC 1963). When the the car and the boys called the learner a” nigger” (Dunn,NC 1963). When the learner got home, the told his parents about what he was call as he walked to learner got home, the told his parents about what he was call as he walked to downtown. The learner’s father said “You are not a nigger but a proud negro downtown. The learner’s father said “You are not a nigger but a proud negro boy and the learner’s mother said that “GOD have no color and GOD loves you boy and the learner’s mother said that “GOD have no color and GOD loves you and created you”. Then the learner’ s father told him about the time he (the and created you”. Then the learner’ s father told him about the time he (the father) went to bar with his Army friends and ordered some drinks , the owner father) went to bar with his Army friends and ordered some drinks , the owner came out and said ”We do not serve niggers in here”. Then , the learner’s came out and said ”We do not serve niggers in here”. Then , the learner’s father said ”I am glad you do not serve nigger in here because I do not want a father said ”I am glad you do not serve nigger in here because I do not want a nigger but a beer“( Eugene Spears one the first black male in the Special Force nigger but a beer“( Eugene Spears one the first black male in the Special Force 8282ndnd Airborne). This learner learned about life in the south and civil right. The Airborne). This learner learned about life in the south and civil right. The learner felt guilt about being black and in later years ,the learner remember learner felt guilt about being black and in later years ,the learner remember the song” Said it out loud’ m black and I’m proud” and the movie” Remember the song” Said it out loud’ m black and I’m proud” and the movie” Remember The Titan”. The learner was taught about GOD and JESUS at a young age and The Titan”. The learner was taught about GOD and JESUS at a young age and to pray to GOD for help and to talk to the parents about anything, he to pray to GOD for help and to talk to the parents about anything, he needs .Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, needs .Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, resulting in sense of guilt (Erik Erikson’ s Psychosocial Stage of Development). resulting in sense of guilt (Erik Erikson’ s Psychosocial Stage of Development). Kohlberg’ s Moral Development concept of consecutive stages are rich with Kohlberg’ s Moral Development concept of consecutive stages are rich with theological implications. theological implications.

Kohlberg’ s stages of Moral Kohlberg’ s stages of Moral Development.Development.• An application of Kohlberg ‘s theory is especially relevant to current An application of Kohlberg ‘s theory is especially relevant to current

discussions of the gospel (Holy Bible: Four Books of JESUS the CHRIST ‘s discussions of the gospel (Holy Bible: Four Books of JESUS the CHRIST ‘s life), the atonement, the Law, Comments and the true character of GOD life), the atonement, the Law, Comments and the true character of GOD the father and JESUS the son ( John 3:16, Holy Bible).An application of his the father and JESUS the son ( John 3:16, Holy Bible).An application of his theory to the story of GOD’s dealing with ancient children of Israel, offers a theory to the story of GOD’s dealing with ancient children of Israel, offers a rational explanation of actions on GOD ‘s part which may seem harsh or rational explanation of actions on GOD ‘s part which may seem harsh or unduly severe from our perspective. Stage 1: PUNISHMENT AND unduly severe from our perspective. Stage 1: PUNISHMENT AND OBEDIENCE: Avoidance of physical punishment and deference to power. OBEDIENCE: Avoidance of physical punishment and deference to power. Punishment is an automatic response of physical retaliation. The Punishment is an automatic response of physical retaliation. The immediate physical consequences of an action determine its goodness or immediate physical consequences of an action determine its goodness or badness. The atrocities carried out soldiers during the holocaust who were badness. The atrocities carried out soldiers during the holocaust who were simply” carrying out orders” under threat of punishment, illustrate that simply” carrying out orders” under threat of punishment, illustrate that adults as well as children may function at stage one level( Proverbs:22:6 & adults as well as children may function at stage one level( Proverbs:22:6 & 15 rob of correction, King Solomon: warning and instruction and correction 15 rob of correction, King Solomon: warning and instruction and correction and teaching his son life stages & GOD ‘s Comments: Old Testament). This and teaching his son life stages & GOD ‘s Comments: Old Testament). This learner’s parents applied the rob of correction throughout the learner’s learner’s parents applied the rob of correction throughout the learner’s childhood. This taught the learner right from wrong and about rules and childhood. This taught the learner right from wrong and about rules and GOD’s Comments and about life. In the learner’s community, there were GOD’s Comments and about life. In the learner’s community, there were family like, grandparents, parents ,uncles &aunts and cousins in the same family like, grandparents, parents ,uncles &aunts and cousins in the same family as the learner.family as the learner.

Industry vs. Inferiority.Industry vs. Inferiority.

• Children compete with peers in school and prepare to take Children compete with peers in school and prepare to take on adult roles. Children need to cope with new social and on adult roles. Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. This learner understand what Erikson is saying, at the age This learner understand what Erikson is saying, at the age of 10 ,the learner attending school with white students for of 10 ,the learner attending school with white students for the first time in the South. This was the first time the the first time in the South. This was the first time the learner have to compete with other race and to prove that learner have to compete with other race and to prove that we are equal under GOD and we all were created by GOD. we are equal under GOD and we all were created by GOD. The learner learned that some white students were ok with The learner learned that some white students were ok with going to school with the learner and this was the same time going to school with the learner and this was the same time as the death of Civil Rights Leaders in 1968. The learner as the death of Civil Rights Leaders in 1968. The learner was taught about his history as a negro . This learner was was taught about his history as a negro . This learner was not inferiority to any race.not inferiority to any race.

The Conventional Level.The Conventional Level.

• In this level, children value rules, which they In this level, children value rules, which they follow in order to get approval from others. follow in order to get approval from others. In the first level, children want the approval In the first level, children want the approval only of the people close to them. In the only of the people close to them. In the second level, children concerned with peers, second level, children concerned with peers, rules, other communities and society. This rules, other communities and society. This learner learned about other communities learner learned about other communities through talking with other races and through talking with other races and interacting and competing with other races. interacting and competing with other races. As, the learner was taught “To love one as I As, the learner was taught “To love one as I have love you, this my comment”( JESUS have love you, this my comment”( JESUS THE CHRIST, New Testament).THE CHRIST, New Testament).

Identity vs. Role Identity vs. Role Confusion.Erikson’s Confusion.Erikson’s theory :Stage 5 theory :Stage 5 • During adolescence, which is period During adolescence, which is period

between puberty and adulthood, children between puberty and adulthood, children try to determine their identity and their try to determine their identity and their direction in life. Depending on their success, direction in life. Depending on their success, they either acquire a sense of identity or they either acquire a sense of identity or remain uncertain about their roles in life. remain uncertain about their roles in life. The learner was in the 9The learner was in the 9thth grade when his grade when his parents got a divorce and the learner was parents got a divorce and the learner was confused and did not have a father around confused and did not have a father around to guide him and to teach him how to be a to guide him and to teach him how to be a man. But, this learner had his grandfather man. But, this learner had his grandfather to teach him about being a godly man.to teach him about being a godly man.

Intimacy vs. Isolation: Stage Intimacy vs. Isolation: Stage 6.6.• In this stage, young adulthood, people face challenge In this stage, young adulthood, people face challenge

of developing intimate relationships with others. If of developing intimate relationships with others. If they do not succeed, they may become isolated and they do not succeed, they may become isolated and lonely. This is typically a period of relative order and lonely. This is typically a period of relative order and stability where we implement and live the choices stability where we implement and live the choices made in the young adult transition. We settle down made in the young adult transition. We settle down into deeper commitments involving work, family, into deeper commitments involving work, family, church and our community. This learner got married church and our community. This learner got married at 38 years old( first for the learner) and adopted at 38 years old( first for the learner) and adopted children at 41 years old (adoptive daughters are the children at 41 years old (adoptive daughters are the only children ,the learner has). The learner focused only children ,the learner has). The learner focused on serving other and is try to do GOD’s WILL.on serving other and is try to do GOD’s WILL.

Generativity vs. Self- Generativity vs. Self- Absorption. Stage 7.Absorption. Stage 7.• As people reach middle adulthood, they work to As people reach middle adulthood, they work to

become productive members of the society, become productive members of the society, either through parenting or through their jobs. If either through parenting or through their jobs. If they fail, they become overly self-absorbed This they fail, they become overly self-absorbed This is stage of mid-life questioning that’s been is stage of mid-life questioning that’s been discussed so much in the popular press. If we discussed so much in the popular press. If we have achieved our dreams we look at what have achieved our dreams we look at what values. This learner had a dream to complete Law values. This learner had a dream to complete Law School online( confirmed on OCT.22,2001 JD from School online( confirmed on OCT.22,2001 JD from Kensington U.) but his family has not gone as he Kensington U.) but his family has not gone as he dreams, the learner’s daughter has FAS/FAE and dreams, the learner’s daughter has FAS/FAE and is now in a group home long term.is now in a group home long term.

Integrity vs. Despair. Stage Integrity vs. Despair. Stage 8.8.• In old age, people examine their lives. They may In old age, people examine their lives. They may

either have a sense on contentment or either have a sense on contentment or disappointed about their lives and fear of the disappointed about their lives and fear of the future. The period after completion of mid-life future. The period after completion of mid-life transition can be one of the most productive of all transition can be one of the most productive of all stages. This learner dreaming that ten years from stages. This learner dreaming that ten years from now , he will completed Capella U. and the now , he will completed Capella U. and the learner ‘s nonprofit company help other and learner ‘s nonprofit company help other and communities. The learner prays that both communities. The learner prays that both daughters would have a good life and happier life. daughters would have a good life and happier life. The learner pray that he will serve GOD better The learner pray that he will serve GOD better than he did in the past.than he did in the past.

Reference:Reference:

Kohlberg,Lawrence(1927-1987)Kohlberg,Lawrence(1927-1987)

Erikson,Erik Homburger(1902-1994)Erikson,Erik Homburger(1902-1994)

Weiler,Nicholas W. in collaboration with Weiler,Nicholas W. in collaboration with Schoonover, Stephen C. MD(2001)Schoonover, Stephen C. MD(2001)

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