SWK5003 Week 3 Assignment Comparative Analysis of Child and Adolescent Testing Options

Comparative Analysis of Child and Adolescent Testing Options

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Capella University

SWK5003

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Using Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory Analysis of the Character of Antwone Fisher

The issue of childhood development is critical in determining the emotional, social, and psychological well-being of an individual. Movies that show the development and destiny of children are likely to give some of the most potent lessons on development theories applicable in predicting human activities. The movie Antwone Fisher is a movie by Denzel Washington and was published in 2002, and presents a curious illustration of psychosocial growth.

The movie is tied to the real-life story of a young African American male, Antwone Fisher, who has served in the U.S Navy and is unable to handle his emotions and his relationships with other people because of his traumatic childhood experience. This assignment uses the Psychosocial Development Theory by Erik Erikson to follow the developmental path of Fisher and the crisis that he undergoes, the impact of biological, psychological, and social forces, and how he is able to go through to resolve his developmental problems.

Character Overview and Presenting Problem

Antwone Fisher comes out as a much disciplined young sailor who is emotionally imbalanced and in his early twenties. Having become a foster child, Fisher lost his father, killed, and his mother was sentenced to prison; he was forced to put up with much neglect, battering, and emotional trauma.

His problematic presenting activities comprise the fact that he easily loses his temper with individuals, lacks trust, has low self-esteem, and unresolved abandonment issues (Bogaerts et al., 2025). These are signs of an interruption in his early childhood life development, especially failure to establish a stable attachment and overcome psychosocial crisis as described by Erikson in the child development model.

Overview of Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory

According to the psychosocial development theory by Erikson, human beings are subjected to eight stages through which psychosocial crisis occurs, and in every case, solutions to the crisis have to be found in order to have a healthy development. The conflicts of two conflicting psychological forces, i.e., trust versus mistrust or autonomy versus shame, and the successful resolution leads to the appearance of virtues to help a person in his/her development (Christie and Sandoval, 2024).

The events that were experienced by Fisher could have been best explained in the context of the first five stages that Erikson presented, which comprised the critical years in childhood and adolescence. Erikson says that failure to attain these stages may lead to emotional and interpersonal problems in the adult stage, as is the case with Fisher.

The theory of Erikson was used in the case of Antwone Fisher

Fisher has a bad trust versus mistrust stage, which was provoked during the early years of the given stage. He has not received the normal attention and love during his infancy, and this is the reason why he was more likely to distrust other people and could not make a safe attachment. In the autonomy vs. shame and doubt level, his potential for generating independence and confidence was suppressed by the abusive, supportive environment. His backing was quite humiliating and a punishment that provided him with a sense of incompetence and the risk of losing (Huseyin Kotaman & Aslan, 2024).

The interest and the power to explore during the initiative versus guilt phase were limited by the fear of being abused in Fisher. This led to stifled leadership and a sense of guilt in the instances where he tried to push himself. The role models and the internalized shame had negative influences on his social and academic development. Lastly were the identity vs. role confusion stage of teenage years, and Fisher was experiencing difficulties in defining himself. Without the assistance of family support or identity, he had been put into the world of manhood without an answer to the questions that were not well defined on his identity, his purpose, and his value (Krabbendam et al., 2024).

Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors

Due to biological aspects, the neurological maturation of Fisher could also be influenced by chronic stress and trauma at an early age, particularly in areas that are related to emotional regulation. As a psychological issue, he has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) signs and symptoms that include anger, hypervigilance, and emotionlessness. The social isolation and other lack of relationships are what have helped to make him an outcast (Taylor et al., 2023).

Nonetheless, the illicit affair with the psychiatrist of the Navy, Dr. Jerome Davenport, who becomes his mentor, is a stepping stone. Dr. Emotional experience by Fisher is the corrective one and gives a second chance to trust people and cope with his trauma that Davenport and his kindness and guidance offer.

Resolution of Developmental Crises

The therapy and self-reflection make Fisher face his past and overcome his psychosocial crisis. In reconnecting with his birth mother and by extension, achieving a sense of identity that is not predefended by his trauma, he is progressing to the stage of identity versus role confusion as postulated by Erikson. It is a life and death intervention of Dr. Davenport that causes the healing of Fisher.

He is loving but severe, which preconditions the emotional security that Fisher has been deprived of as a child and shows that the absence of emotions in terms of early development can be corrected in the form of a stable and trusted atmosphere (Lane & Smith, 2021). The solution of Fisher coincides with the thinking of Erikson, who believes that individuals were not able to solve their previous crisis, but they were able to develop and recuperate later in their lives.

The Theory of Erikson has its strengths and weaknesses

The Erikson theory is especially beneficial as it considers both the input of the environment or the social world and psychological influences in the formation of a person. It grants us a complete knowledge of the way first impressions influence subsequent behaviors and determines that we are capable of transformation throughout the lifespan (Christie and Sandoval, 2024).

Nonetheless, it has a limitation because it is excessively general; the phases put forward by Erikson cannot be generalized to explain differences or even cultural differences. Moreover, the theory has not been fully reflected on the biological side of the issue, which includes the neurodevelopmental effects of the trauma, which may manifest in the case of Fisher.

Application into Social Work Practice

The capacity to theorize child development as advanced by Erikson can go a long way in informing the capability of a social worker to evaluate and assist the clients. Regardless of whether the etiology of behavioral problems is present or absent as a result of unresolved developmental crisis, the practitioner must be aware of this problem to implement interventions that will aim at compensating for the lack of emotional and relational deficits as opposed to symptomatic management of behavioral problems (Huseyin Kotaman & Aslan, 2024).

Considering the case of clients with a wide range of backgrounds, like that of Fisher, interventions are sensitive and fair since the cultural and environmental background is also part of the assessment process. The developmental stages also make social workers sensitive, thus creating resistance to instilling a sense of resilience and directing the clients to self-actualization.

Conclusion

The example of the narration of the character of Antwone Fisher is a vivid example of how the negative development during childhood may be changed in the adult age with the help of the supporting relationships and the exploration of self. Psychosocial Development Theory of Erikson, as applied to the life of Fisher, is an explanation in a step-by-step fashion of why he could not trust, identify, and belong.

Although his account is understood in terms of the extent to which the first trauma is cut to shreds, it shows that a human being is capable of growing and recovering. The scenario shows the need to build awareness among social workers to help the client attain emotional healing, but not just in his/her overall wellness.

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