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Background

Linked Examples:

https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/science/article/pii/ S0145213410000402?via%3Dihub

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? vid=6&sid=270bebe5-2536-4fc0-aa02-6656bff66743%40sessionmgr4009

1. Psychology

Psychology dates back to the late 19th century in which it took form as a

“scientific enterprise”. (Peace) It is defined in many ways but it is mostly thought to be practiced

by that person who sits and listens to individual’s problems and looks for solutions. Although

this is a form of psychological treatment, psychology is defined as “the study of human nature

and/or behavior”. (Boundless) It is important to know psychology through this definition as we

will be going into depth on how events can later on effect human behavior years later. This is not

to be taken as though psychology has one specific meaning but rather that it will be analyzed and

used in this way now. Further into psychology, this research will be focused on the social-

cultural influences in an individual’s development.

1.1 Social-cultural Influences

Developed in the 1930’s the social-cultural approach to psychology is looking at

an individual’s experiences, their culture, and influences and how these things shape their

personalities and actions later on. Vygotsky, father of the social-cultural approach, was a

Soviet psychologist who believed that “interactions made by children can shape and

influence both the way in which they perceive the world and their cognitive processes”.

(Waude)  It is evident that this approach is of upmost importance being that the question

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being asked is: does childhood drama affect an individual’s later on career choice and

success within said career? This approach directly correlates to childhood experiences as

it is thought that things such as “social class, race, age, ethnicity, gender, religion, family

and friends affect an individual’s development”. ("Socio-Cultural.")

2. Children in Psychology

All throughout history it is evident that psychologist interest themselves with an

individual’s development and how all their life choices date back to when they were children.

Centuries later, experts can say that understanding “child development is essential because it

allows us to fully appreciate the cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and educational growth

that children go through from birth and into early adulthood”. (Gans, "What Are Some Theories

of Child Development?") Dozens of theories have been discussed but personally 3 are most

prominent:

i. Freud's Psychosexual Developmental Theory

ii. Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory

iii. Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory

2.1 Freud’s Psychosexual Development Theory

Sigmund Freud is renowned psychologist who made many breakthroughs in his

lifetime. Freud’s Psychosexual Development Theory is perhaps his most important one.

Freud “came to believe that childhood experiences and unconscious desires influenced

behavior”. (Gans, "What Are Some Theories of Child Development?") This theory says

that “child development occurs in a series of stages”. It is understood under this theory

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that during each stage, a conflict is encountered which is depending on the way it is

faced, it will significantly affect an individual’s development. Freud believed that

regardless what happens after the stages, that experiences during one’s childhood are of

the “greatest role in shaping development”. (Gans, "What Are Some Theories of Child

Development?")

2.2 Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory

Inspired by Freud, Erik Erikson went on to develop his very own eight-stage

theory of development. Freud proved to be a great influence for many psychologists after

his time, but Erikson’s theory seems to be one of most importance. Although both

theories share similarities, Freud’s theory was based more on sexual interest as

motivation, while “Erikson believed that social interaction and experience played

decisive roles”. (Cherry and Stevens) These eight stages are: Trust vs. Mistrust,

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. inferiority, Identity vs.

Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, and Integrity vs. Despair.

(Gans, "Understanding Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development.") This theory

aimed to describe development from birth to death and how each stage affects the success

of the next one.

2.3 Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory

An obvious thought as of now but revolutionized and inspired by Piaget is the fact

that “Children think differently than adults”. (Gans, "What Are Some Theories of Child

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Development?") This cognitive theory was created in aim to explain the “development of

the thought process and mental states”. (Gans, "What Are Some Theories of Child

Development?") Expanding from this, Piaget wanted to see how those thought processes

effected the way we behave socially. Similar to previous theories this one takes place in

stages which starts from birth until the final stage anywhere between age 12 and

adulthood.

3. Summary

In brief, this research will involve analysis of previous developed theories and

experiments as well as auto-ethnography. Using the term of psychology and all of its

subcomponents, it will effectively be concluded on how childhood experiences influence

an individual’s career choice and success and said career?

Methods

My Past Experience

Third grade was one of the hardest years for me. Being only nine years old and

undergoing such harsh and traumatic experiences, truly shaped who I am today and what my

intentions are for the future. In 2009, my father faced a harrowing heart attack at a very young

age; from then on, I accompanied my dad to a vast amount of doctor visits, check-ups, and

exams. Throughout this time, I grew a fascination with hospitals and medicine in general. I was

attracted to the fast pace movement of the way hospitals were ran; patients going in, patients

going out, nurses rushing through the swinging doors. I admired the way the doctors maneuvered

medical conversations; they educated their patients on the best treatments and what should be

done to prevent further complications. Obtaining this type of knowledge and insight was

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something I always wished I could once possess. My goal is to become a cardiovascular surgeon,

to help those that need attention and saving like my father once did. The exposure to all the

medicine shaped my personality into a helping and eager to learn individual which is the premise

of my topic.

The Research

After conducting my research, I came across an abundance of theories having to do with

individual development. The ones I will be using are those involving different stages in one’s life

that are crucial to their personal development. These theories believe that one’s childhood is

most crucial as it is the bases for a person’s future behaviors and personality. The psychologist

behind the theories I will be utilizing for my paper are Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, and Piaget.

To expand once again on one, Sigmund Freud developed the Psychosexual development theory

which believes that unconscious desires influence behavior. Freud stated that development

happens in a series of stages in which a person is faced with conflicts and based on how a person

responds to these conflicts it’ll determine their future personality and behavior. Erikson’s

Psychosocial Development Theory is very similar but Erikson focusses more on social

interactions and experiences are reasons behind one’s development. These theories are important

to my topic as I will be implementing my own experiences into these different stages in order to

conclude a specific personality that defines me based on what they say I should be.

How it Relates to Career Choice

One’s career choice is fairly a big deal as it is the thing that one is choosing to do for the

rest of their life. Yet, there is a great deal of people that get lost along the way and end up in a

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career that is not meant for them. To my belief, one’s personality is a big factor on their success

in the career they have picked. This not to say that someone will not succeed in something that is

not particularly descriptive of their personality, this simply means that one’s personality will

correlate with their career as it the job will accommodate to that person’s behaviors and the

things they enjoy. For example, a person that has developed into a shy person will most likely

not choose a career that puts them in the spot light. In fact, they are more likely to find their ideal

career somewhere where they can work on their own rather. When speaking of myself, I believe

I am a hardworking, compassionate individual which is why I have chosen to become a doctor.

My personality has a strong correlation to what many believe a doctor needs and unconsciously

it is why I choose this career way before writing this research paper. The same way a shy person

would choose a quiet career, I am eager to help and learn which is why my career choice is to be

a doctor.

Results

Over the course of my auto-ethnography, I have gained a better insight on the in-depth

theories of Psychoanalysis presented by an array of well-respected and well-known

Psychologists. Through self-evaluation and analysis, I have been able to connect my own

personal experiences - both past and present - with the many stages of development that are

thought to be responsible for shaping an individual’s personality and overall characteristics.

More specifically, the Erickson Theory of Psychosocial Development is one of the most

discussed theories in which it can be more easily applied to real life encounters experienced

by all individuals. Hence, I have decided to utilize this theory and incorporate different

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events in my life to determine a specific personality that correlates for my desire to become a

doctor.

1.Trust vs Mistrust

This stage takes place during infancy in which an infant is seeing a new world and is

constantly looking for care. Fortunately, I was given all the care I needed as I had a complete

household along with multiple family members. In other words, when I cried for any reason,

I was given the attention I needed allowing me to develop trust. Erikson believed that if an

infant receives consistent and reliable care, they will develop trust that will carry on to future

relationships and sense of security when feeling threatened. In my case, I was able to trust

and it is evident as I’ve always been a trusting and non-fearful person which is directly

correlated to Erikson’s belief failure in this stage can lead to mistrust in the world around

them, and anxiety.

2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

During this stage, one is between 18 months and three years old. During this time, I

began to explore independency with the things I wore and ate. I was allowed to experiment

with my choices for food and clothing items which is critical for this stage. Being able to

explore the limits of my ability helped me become confident and believe in my ability to

survive in the world. This stage is said to be a very difficult stage as parents should have a

good balance between helping and allowing with their children’s choices. If one is to fail at

this stage in life it is believed that they will be insecure and not confident with their own

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abilities later in life therefore it is fortunate that I am confident in what I can do as I have

chosen a career that requires this trait.

3. Initiative vs Guilt

Throughout this stage I started to develop leadership skills in which I would construct

unique childhood games and lead others in them. The importance behind this is that my

parents encouraged me to lead and be creative. Not only that but during this stage I began to

grow curious which is usually when children begin to ask many questions, and I was no

different. The crucial result of this stage is that the child doesn’t not feel like a nuisance. My

parents encouraged my questions therefore I was confident in my leadership skills and

developed self-initiative.

4. Industry vs Inferiority

This stage is the main basis of this research topic. Between the ages of five and twelve, a

child seeks approval from teachers, elders, and peers. During this stage in my life, I went

through a traumatic experience; my father suffered a major heart attack. Being only 9 years

old, seeing my life take such a drastic change definitely increased my desire for approval

from adults. To be more specific, my household is composed of my parents and I; after the

heart attack, my father was incapable of working and my mom had to work more

excessively. I took on an abundance of responsibility in order to help out in the house but

also seeking approval of my ability to do things that many kids my age were not used to. I

began to be exposed to a lot of medicine and doctor visits which began to mold my interest. I

memorized 9 different pills and the time they needed to be taken for my dad, when there

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were appointments, signs of a heart attack, etc. All in the effort to help my dad but also

seeking approval from elders that I was good help. This allowed me to become confident in

my ability to achieve my goals and it is mainly the reason that steered me towards wanting to

become a doctor. Exposure to such an environment shaped my interests in medicine and my

desire to help others, but most importantly seek approval from others over my ability to do

difficult things.

5. Identity vs Role Confusion

This is the final stage that shall be discussed as I am only 18 years of age. During

this time is when an adolescent looks to find who they truly are as a person. In my case, I

continue to identify as a mature goal striven individual that has confidence in his ability

to able to become a doctor. During this time, I continued to expand my interest in

medicine and found my identity.

Overview

The purpose of this research was to understand how childhood experiences relate

to career choice. Throughout this research, I put my own life into one of the most famous

theories for individual development and showed how my experiences have resulted in my

personality. Due to my traumatic encounters and all of my past events, I have grown to be

a goal-driven individual with an interest in medicine and a desire for approval from my

parents and others to prove I can do something as difficult as becoming a doctor. In

simpler terms, my past experiences have led to my personality, and my personality will

soon lead to my intended career choice and desires.

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Conclusion

This paper aimed to fill that gap that derives from the question, does childhood trauma

affect an individual’s later on career choice and success within said career? As discussed before,

psychology has developed various theories regarding individual development. These theories

discuss different stages in which an individual faces different conflicts and based on their

response to said conflicts it will influence their personality. The specific theory chosen for this

auto ethnography was Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory. It was one of many theories but it

came with detail explanations on the result one may see depending on what they face in any

stage. Therefore, it is fit for this research as the topic of interest is childhood trauma. To be

specific towards myself, my childhood trauma was when my father suffered a major heart attack.

This drove me to pursue this research and apply my life into Erikson’s theory of individual

development. Research allowed me to find exactly when(age) the stages in this theory take place

and the different things they consist of. In the results section of this paper it can be seen how I

went through the different stages and how exactly it effected my personality. At the end, it can

be concluded that I have acquired a significant trait (piece of personality) from each stage as a

part of me. In other words, I was able to develop, trust, confidence, leadership, etc. The

relationship this has with career choice is the gap being filled in this research. Different jobs

require a person to be a certain way in order to succeed in said career. If one is to develop a

personality that does not fit in with a specific career it is safe to say they most likely will not feel

comfortable or they will not succeed. For example, a police officer is thought to have the

personality traits of creativity, compassion, and leadership. If one were to fail the stages of

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autonomy vs. shame and doubt, and initiative vs guilt they would lack confidence in their own

ability to do things and not have a strong leadership ability. This would mean that their

personality is not fit for that of a police officer. This, though, does not mean that they cannot

pick said career it simply means that the chances of this individual to do so are slim as well as

their chance of being successful in such a field. In regard to my childhood trauma, it leads me to

become confident in my abilities but also seek approval from elders at a very young age and as a

result of looking for approval my interest in medicine grew. This not only is the reason behind

my career choice but my personality was shaped by this trauma and it directly influences my

ability to succeed in such a career. This will prove to be helpful to those who are unsure of their

future or those who wonder why the average person ends up making the wrong choice for their

career. It correlates to past experiences during once childhood; the peak of individual

development.

Limitations and Recommendations

This research was conducted as an auto ethnography which is perhaps its biggest

limitation. If this were to be conducted again it would serve more results if multiple individuals

assessed their life through Erikson’s 8 stages. Furthermore, the only theory used is the

psychosocial theory which does not allow for thoughts from other theories. In other words, there

results could alter depending the theory one applies their own life to. Future research should

strive to incorporate more theories allowing for a diversity of results and perhaps observation of

a correlation between them.

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Annotated Bibliography

(1) Peace, Cynthia V. “DEFINITIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY.” Dali - My e-Portfolio, www.personal.psu.edu/~j5j/psy002/P002-96/define1.htm.

This website allowed me to see a variety of definitions for psychology as well as diverse individuals who defined them. With this website, I was able to

depict the definition I want my audience to understand as I carry out my research. This allowed me to see how different professionals see psychology and all of its

different areas of expertise.

(2) Boundless. “Boundless Psychology.” Lumen, Lumen Learning, courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/introduction-to-the-field-of-psychology/.

This source is an article explaining what psychology is and what makes it up. I’ve used this source in order to pick out the component that I will use for the base of my research. I was able to understand that individual development is made up of three different components: biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences. Further reading showed me that my research is primarily revolved

around social-cultural influences. This site offers graphs and diagrams which help explain the more complicated terms which is very important in order for me to transfer the information to my audience.

(3) Waude, Adam. "Cultural Influences And The Sociocultural Approach." Psychologist World. February 03, 2016. Accessed September 16, 2018. https://www.psychologistworld.com/cognitive/learning/sociocultural-approach-vygotsky-zone-proximal-development#references.

‘Cultural Influences and The Sociocultural Approach’, is an article that thoroughly explained to me the parts behind the approach which my research derives from. Information on the person who discovered this approach allowed me to understand it is based on how experiences as a child can cause ripple effects later on seen in adulthood. Not only that but the founders very own theory is explained which helps one understand how other theories were developed.

(4) "Socio-Cultural." Ap Psychology. Accessed September 16, 2018. https://appsychdiscovery.weebly.com/socio-cultural.html.

‘AP Psychology’ was a shorter article yet it was pack full of information that I used to my advantage. It contained examples that children see which can later on

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affect them. This meaning that a child’s environment is correlated to their development. This website also had more information on the founder of the Social-Cultural approach explaining more of his life and how he reached to develop this approach.

(5) Cherry, Kendra, and Steven Gans. "What Are Some Theories of Child Development?" Verywell Mind. December 4, 2017. Accessed September 16, 2018. https://www.verywellmind.com/child-development-theories-2795068.

This site is my largest used site as it contains an abundance of examples and information extremely necessary for this paper. The article explains 7 of the most important child development theories developed through the years. I will use this

to explain how different studies and theories support my idea that childhood experiences determine ones career choice.

(6) Cherry, Kendra, and Steven Gans. "Understanding Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development." Verywell Mind. April 3, 2018. Accessed September 16, 2018. https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740.

This site comes from a hyperlink from the previous one and this was a further explanation on Erikson’s theory. It allowed me to further understand the theory in order for me to explain its components to my audience. It contained diagrams n how the stages of this theory all connect which was crucial for my understanding of the topic.

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