SAS 1 - Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of Development

Erik Erikson

• develop Freud’s work but rejected Freud’s emphasis on sex

• emphasized that the development of the self is a life-long process

• proposed eight psychosocial stages of development

Core Assumptions of Erikson’s Theory

1. each stage represents a developmental task, or crisis, that a person must negotiate

2. each stage marks a potential turning point toward greater competence or greater weakness/vulnerability

1. Trust VS. Mistrust

• occurs approximately at birth to one and a half years of life

• trust is built when a bay’s basic needs are met

• if the infant’s need is not met by responsive, sensitive caregivers, the result is mistrust

2. Autonomy VS. Shame and Doubt

• occurs from about one and half through 3 years of age

• gaining a personal sense of control is the hallmark of this developmental stage

• seeking autonomy develops a strong sense of independence

3. Initiative VS. Guilt

• occurs from 3 to 5 years of age, preschool years

• children are being challenges to develop purposeful behavior to cope with challenges

• when asked to assume more responsibility for themselves, children develop initiative

• when allowed to be irresponsible or made feel anxious because of too much criticisms, they develop too much guilt

[3. Initiative VS. Guilt] resilient

Erikson believed that children are _____ — a sense of accomplishment quickly compensates for most guilt feelings.

4. Industry VS. Inferiority

• occurs from six years of age until puberty

• children can achieve industry by mastering knowledge and intellectual skills

5. Identity VS. Identity Confusion

• occurs from 12-18 years of age

• a stage where adolescents face the challenge of finding out who they are, what they are all about, and where they are going in life

[5. Identity VS. Identity Confusion] Psychological Moratorium

Erikson described adolescence as a _____

6. Intimacy VS. Isolation

• occurs from 18 to 40 years of age

• people face the developmental task of either forming intimate relationships with others or becoming socially isolated

Four Principles At Work in a Successful Marriage

1. Nurturing fondness and admiration

2. Turning toward each other as friends

3. Giving up some power

4. Solve problems together

Being Single

• provides opportunity to explore new places and try out new things

• gives you privacy

Cohabitation

• living together in a sexual relationship without marriage

• a halfway step between being single and being married

• when people cohabit before marriage, they tend to be less happy in marriage and the marriage is likelier to end in a divorce than are marriages of couples who did not cohabit

7. Generativity VS. Stagnation

• occurs from 35 to 60 years of age

generativity

the concern of establishing and guiding the next generation

stagnation

the feeling of having done nothing to help the next generation

8. Integrity VS. Despair

• occurs from 60 until death

• a time of reflection and evaluating what we have done in our lives

integrity

the ego’s accumulated assurance of its capacity for order and meaning

despair

signified by fear of one’s death

Evaluating Erikson’s Theory

• Firmer research base of Erikson’s entire theory has not been developed.

• Focused on case study research.

• Attempted to capture each stage with a single concept sometimes leaving out other developmental tasks.