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Erik Erikson Psychosocial Development 

Erikson’s work is often called a psychosocial theory because it relates principles of psychological and social development.

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Psychosocial crisis are crisis or critical issues to be resolved. o “Most people resolve each psychosocial crisis satisfactorily and move on into the with new challenges, while some people DO NOT completely resolve these crises and must continue to deal with them later in life.”

Erikson HYPOTHESIZED that people pass through 8 PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES in their lifetime! ERIKSON’S STAGES OF PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE I: TRUST versus MISTRUST (Birth to 18 Months) o Goal of infancy- to develop a basic trust in the world. o If goal is not met than the infant creates a sense of mistrust. o TRUST o The mother or maternal figure is the first most important person  She satisfies the infants need for food and affection o MISRTRUST o If the mother or maternal figure is inconsistent or rejecting  She becomes a source of frustration for the infant rather than a source of pleasure

STAGE II: AUTONOMY versus DOUBT (18 Months to 3 Years) o Goal- no longer depends on others o If goal is not met it can lead to shame and doubt in one’s abilities. o AUTONOMY o The ability to do things for themselves  Desires for power and independence- parents who are flexible enough to let their child explore freely but at the same time provide an ever-present hand, encourage the establishment of a sense of autonomy

o DOUBT o The ability to depend on others  A sense of powerlessness and incompetence- parents who are overly restrictive and harsh

STAGE III: INITIATIVE versus GUILT (3 to 6 Years) o Goal- find out what kind of person the child may want to become o If goal is not met the child will feel guilty about their natural urges during this stage and later in life

o INITIATIVE o Parent’s who permit children to run, jump, play, slide, and throw o GUILT o Parent’s who severely punish children at initiative STAGE IV: INDUSTRY versus INFERIORITY (6 to12 Years) o Goal- Expansion into the social world o If goal is not met than the child’ faces failure o INDUSTRY o Children are now starting school which means teachers and peers are increasing in importance; parents are influence decreases  Children success brings with it a sense of good feeling about oneself and one’s abilities o INFERIORITY o A negative self-image is created by failure  Failure causes an inability to measure up to one’s own standards or those of parents, teachers, or brothers and sisters

STAGE V: IDENTITY versus ROLE CONFUSION (12 Years to 18 Years) o Goal- is for adolescents to figure who they are o If goal is not met the adolescent struggles with identity confusion o IDENTITY o Adolescents deal with change  Adolescents change physiology, coupled with pressures to make decisions about future education and career, creates the need to question and redefine the psychosocial identity  Teenagers experiment with various sexual occupational and educational roles as they try to find out who they are and who they can be o ROLE CONFUSION o Adolescents struggles with identity (identity crisis)

STAGE VI: INTIMACY versus ISOLATION (Young Adulthood) o Goal- young adults form relationships o If goal is not met the young adult goes into isolation o INTIMACY o Young adults form a new relationship of trust and intimacy with another individual, a partner in friendship, sex, competition, and cooperation  The relationship should enhance the identity of both partners without stifling the growth of either o ISOLATION o Young adult doesn’t form a new relationship or intimacy  When intimacy fail, young adults retreat into isolation

STAGE VII: GENERATIVITY versus SELF-ABSORPTION (Middle Adulthood) o Goal- to grow by teaching

o If goal is not met adults develops interpersonal impoverishment o GENERATIVITY o Interest in establishing and guiding the next generation Attained through raising children or other forms of productivity and creativity known as teaching o SELF-ABSORPTION o If there is no growth a sense of stagnation and interpersonal impoverishment develops  Leads to self-absorption or self-indulgence 

STAGE VIII: INTEGRITY versus DESPAIR (Late Adulthood) o Goal- resolve final identity crisis o If goal is not met adults regret life decisions o INTEGRITY o Acceptance of accomplishments, failures, and ultimate limitations  Wholeness and a realization that one’s life has been one’s own responsibility

 Death is faced and accepted o DESPAIR o Occur in those who regret the way they have led their lives or how it turned out Implications and Criticisms of Erikson’s Theory 1. Not all people experience crises at the same degree or same time. 2. Emphasizes the role of the environment, both in causing crises and in determining how they will be resolved, however the stages of personal and social development are played out in constant interactions with others and with society as a whole. 3. Does not explain how or why individuals progress from one stage to another. 4. Difficult to confirm through research....