Psychosocial Development

Erik Erikson

Physical, Emotional, and Social Milestones

BIRTH Walking Speaking Potty training

First day at school

Sharing

Riding a bike

First b-day party

Allowance/paper route

Mid/high school

First crush

First job

Driver’s license

Graduation

University/college

Career marriage Family!

Discussion!!! – But first… Identify them as physical, emotional, social

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the father of psychoanalysis, wrote that an individual's personality development depends on the resolution of conflicts between childhood sexual urges and demands of society - This happens in five distinct stages.

Modern psychologist Erik Erikson refined and expanded Freud's theories into eight stages of developmentHe focused on the influence of society and

culture on human personality development.

Erik Erikson’s Stages

Erik Erikson was born in Germany in 1902. In grammar school he was teased for being Jewish. At an early age Erikson did not feel comfortable as a German or as a JewThis feeling was the basis for his notion of an “identity

crisis,” which he would define later when he became a psychologist

In the 1920s he met Anna Freud, a psychoanalyst and Sigmund Freud's daughter. He studied child psychoanalysis with her in Vienna

In 1933 he moved to the United States, where taught at Harvard, Yale, University of California at Berkeley, and other institutions. Erikson died in 1994.

An Identity Crisis - History

He wrote that each stage of a person's life is characterized by a different psychological crisis that must be resolved before the person can successfully progress to the next stageThe success of each stage depends on how

well the previous crisis was resolvedIf a person does not resolve a crisis, it will

continue to affect the person's development throughout life

Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development is widely accepted by psychologists today

Erikson’s Eight Stages

Stage 1: Basic Trust vs. MistrustBirth to age 1Totally dependent on othersCaregiver meets needs: child develops trustCaregiver does not meet needs: child

develops mistrustBasic strength carried forward: Hope

Belief our desires will be satisfiedFeeling of confidence

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Ages 1-3Child able to exercise some degree of choiceChild’s independence is thwarted: child

develops feelings of self-doubt, shame in dealing with others

Basic Strength carried forward: WillDetermination to exercise freedom of choice in

face of society’s demands

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt

Ages 3-5Child expresses desire to take initiative in

activitiesParents punish child for initiative: child

develops feelings of guilt that will affect self-directed activity throughout life

Basic strength carried forward: PurposeCourage to envision and pursue goals

Stage 4: Industriousness vs. InferiorityAges 6-11Child develops cognitive abilities to enable in

task completion (school work, play)Parents/teachers do not support child’s

efforts: child develops feelings of inferiority and inadequacy

Basic strength going forward: CompetenceExertion of skill and intelligence in pursuing

and completing tasks

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role ConfusionAges 12-18Form ego identity: self-imageStrong sense of identity: face adulthood with

certainty and confidenceIdentity crisis: confusion of ego identityBasic strength going forward: Fidelity

Emerges from cohesive ego identitySincerity, genuineness, sense of duty in

relationships with others

Stage 6: Intimacy vs. IsolationAges 18-35 (approximately)Undertake productive work and establish

intimate relationshipsInability to establish intimacy leads to social

isolationBasic strength going forward: Love

Mutual devotion in a shared identityFusing of oneself with another person

Stage 7: Generativity vs. StagnationAges 35-55 (approximately)Generativity: Active involvement in

teaching/guiding the next generationStagnation involves not seeking outlets for

generativityBasic strength going forward: Care

Broad concern for othersNeed to teach others

Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs. DespairAges 55+Evaluation of entire lifeIntegrity: Look back with satisfactionDespair: Review with anger, frustrationBasic strength going forward: Wisdom

Detached concern with the whole of life

Age(Years)

Stage Psychosocial Crisis

Psychosocial Strength

Environmental Influence

1 Infancy Trust vs. Mistrust Hope Maternal

2-3 Early childhood Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Willpower Both parents or adult substitutes

4-5 Preschool Initiative vs. Guilt Purpose Parents, family and friends

6-11 Middle Childhood Industry vs. Inferiority

Competence School

12-18 Adolescence Identity vs. Role confusion

Fidelity Peers

18-35 Young adulthood Intimacy vs. Isolation

Love Spouse, lover, friends

35-65 Middle age Generativity vs. Stagnation

Care Family, society

Over 65 Old age Integrity vs. Despair

Wisdom All humans

Erikson’s Eight Stages

Erikson’s Fifth Stage

Identity vs. Role Confusio

n

Adolescence

Develops a sense of self in relationship to others and to own internal thoughts and desires

• social identity • personal identity

Erikson stressed the importance of an active search for identity during adolescence.

Diffusion - Status in which an individual has not made a commitment to an identity, nor has even explored an identity. Adolescents may express role diffusion through adopting a negative identity (Defining oneself by what one is not.)

Foreclosure - When individuals make a premature commitment to an identity yet fail to explore their identity thoroughly, they are in what psychologists call an Identity Foreclosure

Moratorium – Individuals have and maybe even continue to explore answers to the “Who Am I?” question, but don’t yet have an answer to this question

Achievement - Those who make an informed commitment to their identity through thorough exploration

Negative Identity – A person takes on traits of another person or parent; delays adolescent’s resolution of own identity crisis

Identity Statuses

1. Rudy.

Rudy has changed his college major so many times that it will take him 7 years to graduate. Since his parents have pointedly objected to paying the expenses for tuition and room and board, Rudy has cheerfully taken on a variety of jobs, ranging from bartender to shoe salesman. He likes work that allows him time to think and be alone; his few friends are very much the same way. Rudy's grades are generally high, though his record is marred by a several "incompletes." He has had one very satisfying intimate relationship and is searching rather anxiously for another. Rudy's identity status would probably be described as ___________.

Identity AchievementForeclosureIdentity DiffusionNegative IdentityMoratorium

Test Cases

RUDYIdentity Moratorium

This an example of identity moratorium. In the United states, the most obvious place to engage in an identity moratorium is the college or the military

Persons in an Identity Moratorium have and even continue to explore the question “Who am I?”, but don’t yet have an answer

2. Melissa

Mellissa's parent are both physicians. In college she majored in French, spending a semester in France studying art and culture. Upon graduation she surprised her parents by announcing that she had applied to medical school. A close relationship with a hospice nurse and a summer job as a hospital volunteer had helped her arrive at the decision. Melissa's identity status would probably be described as _______________.

Identity AchievementForeclosureIdentity DiffusionNegative IdentityMoratorium

Test Cases

MelissaAchievement

Melissa has explored many possible identities. Thorugh her own introspection and self-exploration has chosen her goals and career.

She explored her ‘artsy’ side in university, and the medical interests while serving in a hospice

She also benefitted from having a conversation partner at the hospice (maybe parents too)

3. Lynn

Lynn's mother is a professor of women's studies who is deeply involved in feminist issues. Lynn very much admires her mother, a strong woman who, as a single parent, struggled to provide for her daughter while establishing her own career. Lynn believes that she, too, will be a strong and independent woman. She avoids people (especially men) who either don't see her in that light or try to bring out her feminine nature. She certainly steer clear of her paternal grandmother, who (although pleasant) is a very disorganized and "artsy" person. Lynn's college grades are very high, and her course selections reflect a unwavering interest in psychology, politics, and women's studies. Lynn's identity status would probably be describe as ________________. Identity Achievement

ForeclosureIdentity DiffusionNegative IdentityMoratorium

Test Cases

LynnIdentity Foreclosure

Foreclosure comes from some sort of adversity or roadblock. lynn was psychologically hurt in the divorce. Other young people may enter foreclosure because of issues such a pregnancy or death of a parent.

Lynn’s commitment was motivated by the strong and admirable figure of her mother, and she believes she has personality traits in common with her mother – but there is not much evidence of personal exploration

4. Daniel

Daniel is a freshman at a college near his old high school. He comes home nearly every weekend but does not enjoy himself once he's there. He avoids talking to his parents or old high school friends, preferring to "surf the web" on the computer in his room. Periodically he engages in impulsive shopping; after these sprees he comes home and talks excitedly about the latest electronic gadget he's acquired. he gets angry if his parents ask what he considers to be foolish questions, and angrier still if they patronize him. Daniel is enrolled in courses he has been told are easy, and he does not have strong feelings about his studies or his grades. Daniel's identity status would probably be described as __________________.

Test Cases

Identity AchievementForeclosureIdentity DiffusionNegative IdentityMoratorium

DanielIdentity Diffusion

Daniel apparently has few goals and does not care much about finding it. It's time for Daniel's parents to use a little "tough love" and send him packing.

Diffusion is characterized by NOT making a commitment or even exploring possibilities

5. Casey

Casey's grandparents, who raised him from childhood, grew up during the Depression. They are extremely conservative in money matters, politics, and social values. They have always had very high goals for Casey, insisting that he get all A's in school, study several languages, and attend an Ivy League law school. Casey, who considered his grandparents' goals for him to be both unattainable and unappealing, is becoming something of a free spirit. He has started spending freely, squandering his savings on gambling and lavish gifts for his friends. he has also become a leader in a left-wing political group at his school. He no longer plans to become an attorney and may not even finish college. Casey's identity status would probably be describe as ______________. Identity Achievement

ForeclosureIdentity DiffusionNegative IdentityMoratorium

Test Cases

CaseyNegative Identity

Casey in an effort to rebel against his Grandparents has become the opposite of what they wanted him to be

Casey defines himself over against his parents’ (perceived) identities

Age(Years)

Stage Psychosocial Crisis

Psychosocial Strength

Environmental Influence

1 Infancy Trust vs. Mistrust Hope Maternal

2-3 Early childhood Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Willpower Both parents or adult substitutes

4-5 Preschool Initiative vs. Guilt Purpose Parents, family and friends

6-11 Middle Childhood Industry vs. Inferiority

Competence School

12-18 Adolescence Identity vs. Role confusion

Fidelity Peers

18-35 Young adulthood Intimacy vs. Isolation

Love Spouse, lover, friends

35-65 Middle age Generativity vs. Stagnation

Care Family, society

Over 65 Old age Integrity vs. Despair

Wisdom All humans

Note the Agents of a person’s development

What if a person did not have that influence when they needed it?