The movie Parenthood (1989) was directed by Ron Howard and features an all-star ensemble cast. The movie depicts four adult siblings and their respective families as well as their parents and grandmother. The movie features all eight of Erikson’s Stages of Development in the various characters and their children exquisitely. Some of the characters are successfully navigating their lives where others are facing great difficulty.
Grandma (Helen Snow) is the grandmother of Gil and his siblings, his mother’s mother. She is in the Integrity v. Despair stage in Erikson’s theory. This is the final stage for human beings. In old age, people can either share the wisdom they have acquired and created over the many years of their lifetime or they can enter a depression that causes despair in their later years. Grandma clearly enjoys life and being with her family. She is moved around from house to house which she is happy to do. She represents integrity and wisdom in a scene where Gil and his wife are fighting. Grandma describes going to an amusement park as a young woman. She describes riding the merry go round and the rollercoaster; she states that she enjoyed the rollercoaster best. This metaphor for life is meant as a lesson for Gil; life is better enjoyed when it is a rollercoaster.
Gil (Steve Martin) represents Erikson’s Generativity v. Stagnation stage. He has made a conscious decision to raise his children with love and to be closely involved in their lives as opposed to his own father. Gil will do anything for his children to ensure a happy life for them. He is denied a promotion in his company because he is not able to spend as much time at work as other unmarried coworkers. Gil makes time to attend teacher conferences for his children, coaches little league for his son and uses humor and love in the guidance of his children. He stays busy, positive and proactive in his life. When a cowboy actor fails to appear for his son’s birthday party, he dresses up as a cowboy to entertain the children. He represents the virtue of care in a strong and humorous manner.
Julie (Martha Plimpton) is the daughter of Gil’s divorced sister, Helen (Diane Wiest). She is in her last year of high school and very bright. She falls in love with Todd (Keanu Reeves) and they secretly marry. Julie has entered the Intimacy v. Isolation stage of Erikson’s stages. She loves Todd and despite fights with him is open with him and willing to achieve a high level of intimacy with him. In the beginning, Helen is in constant conflict with Julie about the relationship but as the movie moves forward she realizes the love between the two and supports and encourages the young couple. Julie takes her relationship very seriously and supports her husband in the terrible decisions he makes.
Todd does love Julie, but he is still entrenched in Erikson’s Identity v. Confusion stage. He is eighteen or nineteen years old, not a very good student and promises to find a job that will support him and Julie. Because he cannot secure a steady job, he and Julie are forced to live with her mother. He tries painting and drag racing. The racing results in a crash which scares Julie who has just discovered she is pregnant. Todd is lost when it comes to what he will do in life but he demonstrates an understanding of the importance of his relationship with Julie.
Kevin (Jasen Fisher) is Gil’s oldest son who is dealing with emotional issues. Kevin is in the Industry v. Inferiority stage of Erikson’s stages and having a very difficult time. Gil fantasizes often that his love for Kevin will help him through this rough time but it is simply not enough. Kevin lets his baseball team down and is ridiculed by his team in one game. His teacher and principal recognize the emotional difficulties he is having. Kevin makes strange faces, cries easily and has difficulty making friends. He feels inferior to his peers but has a strong and loving relationships with his father. At his birthday party he melts down when he discovers that the cowboy they hired is not coming, but is delighted when his father fills in.
Patty, Gil’s niece through his sister Susan (Harley Jane Kozak) is being primed by her parents, especially her father (Rick Moranis) to be an intellectual. She is in kindergarten, but her parents read Kafka to her and are teaching her Japanese. They feed her a special, nutritious diet and do not let her engage in play. At her Kevin’s birthday party she is hesitant and unsure of how to interact and play with the other children. In this stage of development, Initiative v. Guilt, she is failing miserably. Her parent have her so highly structured she does not have the opportunity to explore and begin activities on her own.
Gil’s youngest son, Justin (Zachary La Voy) is an adorable three year old who exemplifies Erikson’s Autonomy v. Shame stage. He is given freedom to play and explore by Gil and his wife Karen (Mary Steenburgen). He is not judged by them and he lives freely and creatively. In one scene he announces that he is ready for bed, he is seen wearing nothing but a holster and cowboy hat. He is learning to navigate life and other people.
The movie ends with the birth of three children. Gil and Karen have had another baby, Todd and Julie have had their baby and now Helen is having a baby from her new husband. The entire family is present and the director delights the audience with children playing together, the adults congratulating each other and admiring the children. The babies born into this family personify Erickson’s Trust v. Mistrust stage of development. They are all born into loving and caring families who will care for them diligently. The atmosphere in the hospital is hopeful and lively.
Parenthood is an excellent movie that represents all eight of Erikson’s stages of development. This is true of most large, multigenerational families where one can identify a member in each one of the stages. When learning about theories of psychology, they become more meaningful when applied to real life situations. In this case, Erikson’s theories are supported by the members of the Buckman family in the movie.
Works Cited
Parenthood. Dir. Ron Howard. Perf. Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Diane Weist and Rick
Moranis. Imagine Entertainment, 1989. Film.
