Stages of Love: Human Development
Stages of Love Theory
Up to 1 year
♧ Touch stage:- At this stage the child is very comfort while touching the Mother, especially when sacking.
1 to 3 years
♧ Discovery stage:- At this stage, the child feels independent and does not want to be controlled; he/she wants to discover many things so he wants to prove that he knows exactly what he is doing.
4 to 7 years
♧ Confident stage:- At this stage the child is in school and wants to prepare her/himself in the morning for school, and leave on her own without being escorted. She wants to take a shower without any assistance and after school she wants to do homework, finish and show everyone in the house, all this she wants everyone to know she/he knows what she is doing, little assistance is needed at this stage.
8 to 11 years
♧ Confusion stage:- At this stage, the body has started changing and now the child does not want people to keep looking at her or him. If a girl the breasts have started showing; the boy the voice have changed, one gets confused of what is going on. Some girls begin their menstruation and they have mixed feelings.
12 years and upwards
♧ Grown stage:- There is a lot of changes here, different sex start getting attracted to one another. There is maturity seen in both action, behavior, and reasoning. They desire to have their own families; others desire to pursue further studies while others want to be independent in self-employment.
People here are settled and moving on with their families, age is catching up. Those who worked hard have made it, while others are looking for for counsellors stress level has gone up, Children have come and are unruly, work mates are not always having issues and things are becoming too much.
Self Reflection
I am happy to be learning psychology because I will be in a position to help handle cases with the acquired knowledge.
In the book of Timothy in the Bible, Paul an Apostle is advising Timothy on how to live a better life. Paul tells him, “The goal of this command is Love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience accompanied with a sincere faith”. What a counsel from an elder like Paul.
As we offer our services we must have a clear conscience and counsel the client with love, for love encompasses many things.
Desperation is what brings the client to a therapist; at this point love by itself is Therapeutic and I urge Psychologists to apply this theory to our clients and I am sure the effect will be greatly felt.
1 Sam. 23:16, Jonathan the son of Saul comes out to meet David to counsel him on how to protect himself towards Saul who wanted to kill him. Genuine love between David and Jonathan was evident when Jonathan counseled David and helped him to run away for his life. David on the other hand had a role to play, to run away or to stay. The love for one another saved a life. As psychologists expressing love can heal many clients.
Cognitive Theory
Miller: Theories of Cognitive Psychology, Piaget, who coined this theory comes out clearly in explaining how thinking, feeling, and knowledge takes place at different levels. One of the things I picked from it is the importance of social exposure. He outlines (pg. 82), “A child with a passion for aeroplanes is likely to learn a great deal about it”.
Yesterday I met a friend of mine who had gone to pick her daughter from school, the first thing she said to me was that her daughter wants to be a pilot so any time they pass through the airport, they spend some time as she admires it.
Such a character who is already exposed is easier for her to be a pilot than one who has no Idea so I support Piaget. The only thing he underestimated was the social activities, which he later revisited.
Conclusion
Love theory cools down most tempers in this field of counseling. Using the Ego for example as Freud uses it; it can be a disaster because this is a point of no return. As we embrace love we can restore many who otherwise would perish if they only live by their feelings.
Our approaches, therefore, in Psychology should be by themselves be therapeutic. As Freud left a mark in this field, we too need to leave a mark.
Our Standard Review
Date created: 16 Aug 2024 06:45:39
Critical Evaluation:
The article presents a theory of love stages, outlining various developmental phases from infancy to adulthood. The arguments made are somewhat coherent, but they lack rigorous evidence and logical flow. For instance, the transitions between stages are not clearly defined, and the descriptions of each stage could benefit from more depth and clarity. The reasoning behind the stages, particularly the "Confusion stage," could be strengthened by incorporating psychological research on adolescence. The article appears to be biased towards a positive view of love's role in psychology, potentially overlooking other critical factors in mental health. In the real world, the implications of this theory suggest that love is essential in therapeutic settings, but it may oversimplify the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
Quality of Information:
The language used in the article is accessible, making it easy for a broad audience to understand. However, some technical terms, such as "Ego" and "cognitive theory," are not adequately explained, which may confuse readers unfamiliar with psychology. The information presented lacks citations or references to support its claims, raising questions about its accuracy and reliability. There are no apparent signs of fake news, but the article does not adhere to strict ethical standards, as it fails to provide a balanced view of psychological theories. The ideas presented are not entirely new and seem to reiterate existing concepts without offering substantial new insights or contributions to the field.
Use of Evidence and References:
The article does not adequately support its claims with high-quality or relevant sources. While it mentions Piaget's cognitive theory, it does not provide specific references to his work or other scholarly articles that could validate its assertions. There are significant gaps in the evidence, particularly regarding the developmental stages of love and their psychological implications. More empirical research or case studies would enhance the article's credibility and provide a stronger foundation for its claims.
Further Research and References:
Further exploration could focus on the following areas:
- The impact of parental love on child development.
- How cultural differences influence the perception of love and attachment.
- The role of love in adult relationships and mental health.
- Empirical studies on the effectiveness of love in therapeutic settings.
Recommended literature includes:
- "Attachment Theory and Close Relationships" by Jeffry A. Simpson and W. Steven Rholes.
- "The Psychology of Love" by Robert J. Sternberg and Karin Sternberg.
Questions for Further Research:
- How do different cultures define and express love?
- What role does love play in adult mental health and therapy?
- How does parental love influence a child's emotional development?
- Are there measurable outcomes of love in therapeutic settings?
- How do attachment styles affect adult relationships?
- What are the psychological effects of unrequited love?
- How do social factors influence the development of love in children?
- What are the long-term effects of love on psychological well-being?
- How does love interact with other emotions in therapy?
- What empirical evidence exists to support the stages of love theory?
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