Many psychologists have studied psychosocial development. The two examples are Jean Piaget (1896-1980) and Erik Erikson (1902-1994). Piaget was the first psychologist to efficiently study cognitive development. His work includes a theory of children's cognitive development, comprehensive observational studies of cognition in children, and experiments to reveal different cognitive abilities. According to Piaget, children are born with a very basic mental structure that is inherited and then developed. For Piaget, cognitive development was an advanced restructuring of mental procedures as a result of biological maturation and environmental experience (nature-culture). Children build an understanding of the world around them and then experience inconsistencies between what they already know and what they discover in their environment. Like Piaget, Erikson continued to believe that children develop in a predetermined order. She studied how children socialize and how their socialization affects their sense of self. Erikson's theory of psychosocial development has eight distinct stages, each with two possible outcomes. The theory states that successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and successful interactions with others. Failure to complete one stage can result in a reduced ability to complete subsequent stages and therefore an unhealthy personality and sense of self. These phases, however, can be successfully resolved at a later time. I wanted to test both Piaget's and Erikson's theories and see if I can identify them in children six and seven years of age. When I entered Mrs. Shannon's class I introduced myself and told the children to pretend I wasn't in class. I sat at the back and...... in the center of the paper ...... I followed another of Erikson's phases “Initiative versus guilt” If given an opportunity, children develop a sense of initiative and feel confident in their abilities to lead others and make decisions. On the other hand, if this tendency is aimed at criticism or control, children develop a sense of guilt. They may seem like a nuisance to others and will therefore remain followers, lacking personal initiative. After finishing my observation I learned many things I hadn't realized from the way they interacted with each other. I have dealt with children before, but I have never analyzed their behavior or explained it using psychology. I have a newfound appreciation and sympathy for elementary school teachers, children still have a lot of cognitive development to do and it takes a benevolent person to do such a job. Overall I found the experience fascinating and enlightening.