Witold Pilecki as a caring parent model from the Erik Erikson’s theory perspective

Abstract

The subject matter of the paper focuses on the figures of the Steadfast Soldiers as personal role models in upbringing towards higher values. In historical literature, there are many studies dedicated to the Steadfast Soldiers, whereas in psycho-pedagogical literature there have been only a few so far. It is the intention of the author of this paper to reinvigorate scholarly reflection on the educational implications of the biographies of the Steadfast. It is well known that Witold Pilecki, the most famous Steadfast Soldier, was an outstanding patriot. The aim of this paper is to show that he was also a model of a caring parent, inspiring emulation. The article refers to Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, with a particular focus on the virtue of care, which makes it possible to resolve the generativity-stagnation crisis typical for middle adulthood and helps to properly perform the task of raising offspring. According to Erikson, a truly caring parent continually develops a tendency to care about people (primarily their own offspring, but also people in general), objects and ideas. The virtue of care manifests itself by going beyond the needs of the self, by acting for the good of future generations, by being authentic. Care helps to cope with the stagnation manifested by excessive focus on oneself and resentment towards others. It has been shown that Witold Pilecki perfectly fulfilled Erikson’s listed criteria for genuine caring and is thus a personal role model in education for caring parenthood. The paper uses the biography method. Selected studies and source texts describing Pilecki’s life and activities were used, with a special focus on the memoirs of his daughter, Zofia Pilecka-Optułowicz. She portrayed Witold Pilecki as a parent caring for his offspring and other people, a resourceful farmer vigorously engaged in agricultural production and a man devoted to the idea of helping others, selflessly striving to make it a reality.

Błogosławiony ks. Jerzy Popiełuszko jako wzór osobowy w wychowaniu do chrześcijańskiej dojrzałości

“…Mobilizuje do naśladownictwa, wpływając na sferę wolitywną i emocjonalną wychowanka (Maj 2006;Bakiera, Harwas-Napierała 2016;Juroszek 2022Juroszek , 2023aJuroszek , 2023b.…”

Self-Education Into Maturity in Light of the Theoretical Approach of Zdzisław Chlewiński

“…That is how we can recognise that a person has truly been self-educating towards maturity, that they never stops this process. Every new day is another step in his or her process of developing a personal, empathetic relationship with the other (Juroszek, 2023b).…”

Blessed priest Jerzy Popiełuszko as a personal model in upbringing towards the virtue of courage

“…In upbringing towards values, an important role is played by people who have perfectly demonstrated in their lives how to defend the highest ideals. Their biographies, perceived in terms of uniqueness, provide the environment with valuable forms of action even in extremely difficult conditions ( Juroszek, 2023a( Juroszek, , 2023b( Juroszek, , 2022Okoń, 2007). These people, referred to in the literature as personal models, encourage other people to follow them by affecting the emotional and motivational spheres of their followers (Okoń, 2007).…”