Erikson’s Eight

Stages of Psychosoci

al Developme

ntPresented by Renee Illerbrun, Heather Kleinsmith, Kevin

McMullen, and Ann Pallifrone

Stage One: Trust vs. Mistrust

Trust• Stability

• Consistency

• Building blocks that are necessary to construct the trust for success in life

• Virtue of hope

Mistrust• Failing to complete the stage of

virtue of hope

• Increased/heightened sense of fear

• Anxiety

• General feeling of mistrust in the world around them

Stage Two: Autonomy vs. Shame and

Doubt

“Erikson believes that children who experience too much doubt at this stage will lack confidence

in their powers later in life” (Woolfolk, 1987).

Autonomy• Ages of 1-3 years old

• Independence

• Self-confidence

• Positive or negative

Shame and Doubt• Positive reassurance

• Over protective

• Feeling shameful

• Learn doubt

• Toilet training

Stage Three: Initiative vs.

Guilt

The child develops a fundamental understanding of morals and values. They gain self-esteem and learn to

cooperate with their peers. This is affected by a sense of power and control of their environment, which concludes

to the positive outcome of self-purpose and worth.

The FactsInitiative vs. Guilt• Begin to explore their own feelings about themselves

while dealing with society’s perceptions and expectations

• Suicide risk• Anger directed towards themselves rather than

others• May also do things such as change their address,

practitioner, job/career, etc.• Feeling “worn down” and search for ways to quickly

escape issues• Impulsivity: a big characteristic• Abandonment issues• Feel stuck in the “victim” role

StrategiesInitiative vs. Guilt

1.Focus on attaining reasonable goals that build self esteem

2.Expand support networks – suggest support groups

3.Vocational rehabilitation evaluations can be initiated

4. Involvement with others – helps to remove personalized guiltex. “What did I do to deserve this?”

5.Peer to peer mentorship – helps transition to the next stage

Recovering people will apply the newly acquired coping skills and hopefully recover from their old ways of coping in order to pursue empowerment, minimize disability, and change

recurrent episodes/residual symptoms.

Stage Four: Industry vs.

Inferiority

Goal represented in this stage of development reflects the individual’s ability to rely on

themselves. During this stage the child will learn about friendship, self- evaluation and teamwork.

Provides a sense of ‘competence’ in terms of educational achievement.

Recovery ProcessIndustry vs. Inferiority

• Energy stage

Activity vs. Isolation and Rehabilitation vs. Static Disability

Addressed by seeking out greater levels of purposeful work and meaningful leisure chases

• People who negotiate a mutually flexible, combined relationship with their providers will progress faster

StrategiesIndustry vs. Inferiority• Pursuit of interests and activity

• focus involves increase in the basic drive to be productive as well as success with one’s recovery plan

• Vocational rehabilitation services

• Practitioner needs to continue to nurture both independence and production and assist the recovering person in determining comfortable limits on activity• should model problem solving skills and help come to

constructive solutions

Stage Five: Identity vs. Role

Confusion

Who am I? Who can I be?

The FactsIdentity vs. Role Confusion

• Ages 13-19 years old (adolescence)

• Concerned with appearances

• Sense of sexual identity

• Figuring out future roles in the adult world

• Risk of “identity crisis”

Stage Six: Intimacy vs.

Isolation

The FactsIntimacy vs. Isolation

- Ages 18-40

- Newfound identity and meaningfulness

- Developing intimacy and willingness to express feelings and share experiences

Possible OutcomesIntimacy vs. Isolation

Failure to Establish Intimacy Results in:1. Loneliness2. Feeling or being uncared for

Success in Establishing Intimacy Results in:3. Close intimate friendships4. Feeling secure in relationshipsWhat is the importance in

understanding this stage?

Stage Seven: Generativity vs. Self-

Absorption (Stagnation)

The FactsGenerativity vs. Self-Absorption

- Ages 40-65

- Goes further into looking beyond and toward the future

- Establishing family and productivity in the community

- If they do not feel productive or that they have accomplished their goals, they feel like they are losing the meaning of life- mid-life crisis

Why is this important to understand?

Stage Eight: Ego Integrity vs.

Despair

Is it okay to have been me?

The FactsEgo Integrity vs. Despair

• Age 65 until death• Retrospection (the final developmental task)• Can occur out of sequence

Ex. Terminal disease diagnosis

Seeing Your Life as Productive and Successful:- Contemplate accomplishments- Develop integrity

Seeing Your Life as Unproductive or Unaccomplished:- Dissatisfied with life - Develop despair

- Leads to depression/hopelessness