THE THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE EGOBy Erik Erikson

ERIKSON’S PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY The developmental changes throughout the

human life span. Eight stages of human development. Each stage consists of a unique

developmental task that confronts individuals with a crisis, which is a turning point of increased vulnerability and enhanced potential that must be resolved.

Erikson’s Stages Developmental Period

Trust vs. Mistrust Infancy (first year)

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Toddler (2 to 3 years)

Initiative vs. Guilt Preschool (3 to 5 years)

Industry vs. Inferiority School age (elementary school years, 6 years to puberty)

Identity vs. Identity Confusion Adolescence (10 to 20 years)

Intimacy vs. Isolation Early adulthood (20s, 30s)

Generativity vs. Stagnation Middle adulthood (40s, 50s)

Integrity vs. Despair Late adulthood (60s onward)

TRUST VS. MISTRUST Erikson’s first psychological stage experienced in the first year a sense of trust requires a feeling of physical comfort

and a minimal amount of fear and apprehension about the future.

Trust in infancy sets the stage of a lifelong expectation that the world will be a good and pleasant place to live.

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TRUST VS. MISTRUST CONT. Life stage Infancy

Relationship Mother

Issues feeding and being comforted, teething, sleeping

Basic virtue and second named strength

Hope and Drive

Maladaptation

Sensory Distortion

Malignancy Withdrawal

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AUTONOMY VS. SHAME AND DOUBT Erikson’s second psychological stage occurs in late infancy and toddlerhood (1 to 3 years) infants begin to discover that their behavior is their own. start to assert their sense of independences, or autonomy. realizing their will. If infants are restrained too much or punished too harshly,

they are likely to develop a sense of shame and doubt.

AUTONOMY VS SHAME AND DOUBT CONT.Life Stage Toddler

Relationship Parents

Issues Bodily functions, toilet training, muscular control, walking

Basic virtue and second named strength

Willpower and Self-Control

Maladaption Impulsivity

Malignancy Compulsion © Eric Hogan/GETTY IMAGES

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INITIATIVE VS. GUILT Erikson’s third stage of development Preschool years As preschool children encounter a widening social world,

they are challenged more than they were infants. Children are asked to assume responsibility for their bodies,

behaviors, toys, and pets. Developing a sense of responsibility increases initiative. Uncomfortable guilt feelings may arise if the child is

irresponsible Erikson believes that most guilt is quickly compensated for

by a sense of accomplishment.

INITIATIVE VS. GUILT CONT.Life Stage Preschool

Relationship Family

Issues Exploration and discovery, adventure and play

Basic virtueand second named strength

Purpose and Direction

Maladaption Ruthlessness

Malignancy Inhibition© CSIU

INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY Erikson’s fourth developmental stage Occurs approximately in the elementary years Children’s initiative brings them in contact with a wealth of

new experiences. As they move into middle and late childhood, they direct

their energy toward mastering knowledge and intellectual skills.

Children then become more enthusiastic about learning than at the end of early childhood’s period of expansive imagination.

Children can also develop a sense of inferiority, which they would feel incompetent and unproductive.

INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY CONT.Life Stage School age

Relationship School, teachers, friends, neighborhood

Issues Achievement and accomplishment

Basic virtue and second named strength

Competence and Method

Maladaption Narrow Virtuosity

Malignancy Inertia

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IDENTITY VS. IDENTITY CONFUSION Erikson’s fifth developmental stage Individual experience during the adolescent years. Faced with finding out who they are, what they are all about,

and where they are going in life. confronted with many new roles and adult statuses –

vocational and romantic, for example. Parents need to allow adolescents to explore many different

roles and different paths within a particular role.• If the adolescent explores such roles in a healthy manner and

arrives at a positive path to follow in life, then a positive identity will be achieved.

• If an identity is pushed on the adolescent by parents, if the adolescent does not adequately explore many roles, and if a positive future path is not defined, then identity confusion reign.

IDENTITY VS. IDENTITY CONFUSION CONT. Life Stage Adolescence

Relationship Peers, groups, influences

Issues Resolving identity and direction, becoming a grown-up

Basic virtue and second named strength

Fidelity and Devotion

Maladaption Fanaticism

Malignancy Repudiation© GETTY IMAGES

INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION Erikson’s sixth developmental stage Individuals experience during the early adulthood years Face the developmental task of forming intimate relationship

with others Erikson describes intimacy as finding oneself yet losing

oneself in another For example, if the young adult forms healthy friendships

and an intimate relationship with another individual, intimate will be achieved; if not, isolation will result.

INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION CONT.Life Stage Early adulthood

Relationship

Lovers, friends, work connections

Issues Intimate relationships, works and social life

Basic virtue and second named strength

Love and Affiliation

Maladaption

Pomiscuity

Malignancy Exclusivity

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GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATION Erikson’s seventh developmental stage Individuals experience during middle

adulthood A chief concern is to assist the younger

generation in developing and leading useful lives – this is what Erikson means by generativity.

The feeling of done nothing to the next generation is stagnation.

GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATION CONT.Life Stage Middle adulthood

Relationship Children, community

Issues ‘giving back’, helping, contributing

Basic virtue and second named strength

Care and Production

Maladaption Overextension

Malignancy Rejectivity

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INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR Erikson’s eighth and final developmental stage Individuals experience in late adulthood During this stage, a person reflects on the past and either

pieces together a positive review or concludes that life has not been spent well.

For example, the older person may have developed a positive outlook in most or all of the previous stages of development. If so, the retrospective glances will reveal a picture of a life well spent, and the person will feel a sense of satisfaction – integrity will be achieved. If the older adult resolved many of the earlier stages negatively, the retrospective glances likely will yield doubt or gloom – the despair Erikson described.

INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR CONT. Life Stage Late adulthood

Relationship Society, the world, life

Issues Meaning and purpose, life achievements

Basic virtue and second named strength

Wisdom and Renunciation

Maladaption Presumption

Malignancy Disdain© GETTY IMAGES

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BIBLIOGRAPHYSantrock, John W.. "Images of Life-Span Development". Life-Span Development.

New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

"Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory". Businessballs. 02 December 2009 <http://www.businessballs.com/erik_erikson_psychosocial_theory.htm>.

"Erikson's Psychosocial Stages Summary Chart". About. 04 December 2009 <http://psychology.about.com/library/bl_psychosocial_summary.htm>.