Erik Erikson's Stages of
Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson's Stages of
Psychosocial Development
v Erik Erikson
(1902–1994) was a stage theorist who took Freud’s controversial psychosexual theory and modified it
into an eight-stage psychosocial theory of
development.
v During each of
Erikson’s eight development stages, two conflicting ideas must be resolved
successfully in order for a person to become a confident, contributing member
of society. Failure to master these tasks
leads to feelings of inadequacy.
v Erikson also expanded
upon Freud’s stages by discussing the cultural implications of development;
certain cultures may need to
resolve the stages in different ways based upon their cultural and survival
needs.
v Erik Erikson theory
was impacted by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's work, Erikson’s theory
concentrated on psychosocial development rather than psychosexual
development.
v Erikson believed that personality developed in a series of stages.
Unlike Freud's theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson's theory described the
impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. Erikson was interested
in how social interaction and relationships played a role in the development
and growth of human beings.
v Each stage in Erikson's theory builds on the preceding stages and paves
the way for following periods of development. In each stage, Erikson believed
people experience a conflict that serves
as a turning point in development. In Erikson's view, these conflicts are centered on either developing a
psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. During these times,
the potential for personal growth is high but so is the potential for
failure.
v Erikson also believed that a sense of competence
motivates behaviors and actions. Each stage in Erikson's theory is concerned
with becoming competent in an area of life. If the stage is handled well, the
person will feel a sense of mastery, which is sometimes referred to as ego
strength or ego quality. If the stage is managed poorly, the person will emerge
with a sense of inadequacy in that aspect of development.
v Erikson developed his
eight stages of psychosocial development based on Freud’s psychosexual theory. The stages that make
up his theory are as follows:
7)
Stage 7 - Generativity
vs. Stagnation
Psychosocial Stages Summary:
Stage 1: Infancy
(birth to 18 months)
- Basic
Conflict: Trust vs. Mistrust
- Important
Events: Feeding
- Outcome: During the
first stage of psychosocial development, children develop a sense of trust
when caregivers provide reliability, care, and affection. A lack of this
will lead to mistrust.
Stage 2: Early
Childhood (2 to 3 years)
- Basic Conflict: Autonomy
vs. Shame and Doubt
- Important
Events: Toilet Training
- Outcome: Children
need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a
sense of independence. Potty training plays an important role in helping
children develop this sense of autonomy. Children who struggle and who are
shamed for their accidents may be left without a sense of personal
control. Success during this stage of psychosocial development leads to
feelings of autonomy, failure results in feelings of shame and doubt.
Stage 3: Preschool (3
to 5 years)
- Basic
Conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt
- Important
Events: Exploration
- Outcome: Children
need to begin asserting control and power over the environment. Success in
this stage leads to a sense of purpose. Children who try to exert too much
power experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt.
Stage: School Age (6
to 11 years)
- Basic Conflict: Industry
vs. Inferiority
- Important
Events: School
- Outcome: Children
need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a
sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.
Stage: Adolescence
(12 to 18 years)
- Basic Conflict: Identity
vs. Role Confusion
- Important
Events: Social Relationships
- Outcome: Teens need
to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an
ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion
and a weak sense of self.
Stage: Young
Adulthood (19 to 40 years)
- Basic Conflict: Intimacy
vs. Isolation
- Important
Events: Relationships
- Outcome: Young
adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other people.
Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness
and isolation.
Stage: Middle
Adulthood (40 to 65 years)
- Basic Conflict: Generativity
vs. Stagnation
- Important
Events: Work and Parenthood
- Outcome: Adults
need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having
children or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success
leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results
in shallow involvement in the world.
Stage: Maturity (65
to death)
- Basic Conflict: Ego
Integrity vs. Despair
- Important
Events: Reflection on life
- Outcome: Erikson's
theory differed from many others because it addressed development
throughout the entire lifespan, including old age. Older adults need to
look back on life and feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage
leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness,
and despair. At this stage, people reflect back on the events of their
lives and take stock. Those who look back on a life they feel was
well-lived will feel satisfied and ready to face the end of their lives
with a sense of peace. Those who look back and only feel regret will
instead feel fearful that their lives will end without accomplishing the
things they feel they should have
Psychosocial Stage 1
- Trust vs. Mistrust
v The first stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial
development occurs between birth and one year of age and is the most
fundamental stage in life.
v Because an infant is utterly dependent, developing trust is based on the
dependability and quality of the child's parents/caregivers.
v At this point in development, the child is utterly dependent upon parents
/caregivers for everything that he or she needs to survive including food,
love, warmth, safety, and nurturing. Everything.
v If a parents /caregiver fails to provide adequate care and love, the
child will come to feel that he or she cannot trust or depend upon the adults
in his or her life.
v If a child successfully develops trust, he or she will feel safe and
secure in the world.
v Parents /Caregivers who are inconsistent, emotionally unavailable, or
rejecting contribute to feelings of mistrust in the children under their care.
v Failure to develop trust will result in fear and a belief that the world
is inconsistent and unpredictable.
Psychosocial Stage 2
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
v No child is going to develop a sense of 100 percent
trust or 100 percent doubt.
v Erikson believed that successful development was all
about striking a balance between the two opposing sides. When this happens,
children acquire hope, which Erikson described as an openness to experience
tempered by some wariness that danger may be present.
v The second stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development takes
place during early childhood and is focused on children developing a greater
sense of personal control.
v At this point in development, children are just starting to gain a
little independence. They are starting to perform basic actions on their own
and making simple decisions about what they prefer. By allowing kids to make
choices and gain control, parents and caregivers can help children develop a
sense of autonomy.
v Like Freud, Erikson believed that toilet training was a vital part of
this process. However, Erikson's reasoning was quite different than that of
Freud's. Erikson believed that learning to control one's bodily functions leads
to a feeling of control and a sense of independence.
v Other important events include gaining more control over food choices,
toy preferences, and clothing selection.
v Children who successfully complete this stage feel
secure and confident, while those who do not are left with a sense of
inadequacy and self-doubt. Erikson believed that achieving a balance between
autonomy and shame and doubt would lead to will, which is the belief that children
can act with intention, within reason and limits.
Psychosocial Stage 3
- Initiative vs. Guilt
v The third stage of
psychosocial development takes place during the preschool years.
v At this point in
psychosocial development, children begin to assert their power and control over
the world through directing play and other social interactions.
v Children who are
successful at this stage feel capable and able to lead others. Those who fail
to acquire these skills are left with a sense of guilt, self-doubt, and lack of
initiative.
v When an ideal balance
of individual initiative and a willingness to work with others is achieved, the
ego quality known as purpose emerges.
Psychosocial Stage 4
- Industry vs. Inferiority
v The fourth
psychosocial stage takes place during the early school years from approximately
age 5 to 11.
v Through social
interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their
accomplishments and abilities. Children who are encouraged and commended by
parents and teachers develop a feeling of competence and belief in their
skills. Those who receive little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, or
peers will doubt their abilities to be successful.
Psychosocial Stage 5
- Identity vs. Confusion
v Successfully finding a balance at this stage of
psychosocial development leads to the strength known as competence, in
which children develop a belief their abilities to handle the tasks set before
them.
v The fifth psychosocial stage takes place during the often turbulent
teenage years. This stage plays an essential role in developing a sense of
personal identity which will continue to influence behavior and development for
the rest of a person's life.
v During adolescence, children explore their independence and develop a
sense of self. Those who receive
proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge
from this stage with a strong sense of self and feelings of independence and
control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will feel
insecure and confused about themselves and the future.
v When psychologists talk about identity, they are referring to all of the
beliefs, ideals, and values that help shape and guide a person's behavior.
Completing this stage successfully leads to fidelity, which Erikson
described as an ability to live by society's standards and expectations.
v While Erikson believed that each stage of psychosocial development
was important, he placed a particular emphasis on the development of ego identity.
Ego identity is the conscious sense of
self that we develop through social interaction and becomes a central focus
during the identity versus confusion stage of psychosocial development.
v According to Erikson, our ego identity constantly changes due to new
experiences and information we acquire in our daily interactions with others.
As we have new experiences, we also take on challenges that can help or
hinder the development of identity.
v Our personal identity gives each of us an integrated and cohesive sense
of self that endures through our lives. Our sense of personal identity is
shaped by our experiences and interactions with others, and it is this identity
that helps guide our actions, beliefs, and behaviors as we age.
Psychosocial Stage 6
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
v
This
stage covers the period of early adulthood when people are exploring
personal relationships.
v Erikson believed it was
vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people.
Those who are successful at this step will form relationships that are enduring
and secure.
v Remember that each step
builds on skills learned in previous steps. Erikson believed that a
strong sense of
personal identity was
important for developing intimate relationships. Studies have demonstrated that
those with a poor sense of self do tend to have less committed relationships
and are more likely to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression.
v Successful resolution
of this stage results in the virtue known as love. It is marked by the ability
to form lasting, meaningful relationships with other people.
Psychosocial Stage 7
- Generativity vs. Stagnation
v During adulthood, we
continue to build our lives, focusing on our career and family.
v Those who are
successful during this phase will feel that they are contributing to the world
by being active in their home and community.2
v Those who fail to attain
this skill will feel unproductive and uninvolved in the world.
v Care is the virtue achieved when this stage is
handled successfully. Being proud of your accomplishments, watching your
children grow into adults, and developing a sense of unity with your life
partner are important accomplishments of this stage.
Psychosocial Stage 8
- Integrity vs. Despair
v
The
final psychosocial stage occurs during old age and is focused on reflecting
back on life.
v
At
this point in development, people look back on the events of their lives and
determine if they are happy with the life that they lived or if they regret the
things they did or didn't do.
v
Those
who are unsuccessful during this stage will feel that their life has been
wasted and will experience many regrets. The individual will be left with
feelings of bitterness and despair.
v
Those
who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity.
Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a
general feeling of satisfaction. These individuals will attain wisdom,
even when confronting death.
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