Antwone Fisher Case Study

A German psychoanalyst known as Erik Erikson examined three aspects of identity such as the ego, personal, and cultural identity. Erikson also establishes stages of development theory across the lifespan and the psychosocial approach. At each stage of development, there is a representation of a psychological obstacle known as the psychosocial crisis, in which an obstacle can be accomplished or denied for individuals. As the individual is conflicted with a task, it contributes to a major aspect of their personality. However, Newman and Newman added three extra stages to the developmental theory. Therefore, the stages are prenatal, infancy, toddlerhood, early school, middle school, early adolescence, later adolescence, early adulthood, middle

The first developmental stage is infancy as the age ranges from birth to 24 months. At the stage of infancy, infants are supposed to bond and form an attachment to their biological parents. It is also a period for infants to rely on their caregiver. In the case of Antwone Fisher, Fisher was separated at birth from his mother, Eva Fisher. Eva Fisher was placed into the criminal system as she had Antwone at a very young age during her time in prison. “Referred by Division of Child Welfare on 8-3-59. Child is illegitimate; paternity not established. The mother, a minor, is unable to plan for child” (Fisher & Rivas, 2001, p. 23). As a result, there is a disconnection of the caregiver as she is not able to form a bond with Baby Fisher. In addition, Fisher did not grow up with a father due to him being deceased. Therefore, he did not form an attachment bond with his biological parents. Antwone was then placed into the foster care system as he formed a bond with his first foster mother known as Mrs. Nellie Strange. Fisher leaned towards his foster mother’s loving influence, which was ideally good for him during his infancy stage, but soon realized that Mrs. Strange grew apart from him and wanted him gone. That incident had a negative impact on Fisher as he would later feel not loved. Antwone Fisher transitioned into the toddlerhood stage of development as he was removed from Mrs.Strange’s house. As the Toddlerhood stage establishes at the age of two to four, this is a period which a toddler can build on language development and