Understanding and Strengthening the Self: Developmental Stages

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the various stages of human development, Erikson's psychosocial theory, and key concepts related to developmental tasks and health habits.

Human Development

The study of human growth and changes across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality, and emotional growth.

Erik Erikson

Psychologist ($1902$–$1994$) who proposed a lifespan model emphasizing social relationships and eight stages of psychosocial development.

Psychosocial Crisis

A central conflict in each of Erik Erikson's eight stages that must be resolved for healthy personality growth.

Developmental Task

The capacity of an individual to perform and master specific tasks based on what is expected at a certain point in one’s lifespan.

Protective Factors

Conditions associated with enhancing resilience and reducing risk factors during the transition from late adolescence to late adulthood.

Risk Factor

A behavior, condition, or challenge that increases the likelihood of acquiring a disease or disorder.

Emerging Adulthood

A distinct bridge (ages $18$–$25$) characterized by identity exploration, instability, and a high degree of possibility.

Physiological Development

Physical changes and growth of an organism, including bodily structure, function, and health, as it matures.

Psychosocial Development

The development of personality and social skills shaped by interactions with the social environment and significant relationships.

Emotional Development

The process by which individuals learn to understand, experience, express, and regulate their emotions, including empathy and awareness.

Pre-natal Stage

The period from conception to birth when hereditary endowments and sex are fixed and all body features are developed.

Infancy

The foundation age (birth to $2$ years) when basic behavior is organized and ontogenetic maturation skills are developed.

Early Childhood

The pre-gang, exploratory, and questioning age ($2$ to $6$ years old) when language and elementary reasoning are acquired.

Late Childhood

The gang and creativity age ($6$ to $12$ years old) when self-help, social, school, and play skills are developed.

Adolescence

The transition age from puberty to $18$ years characterized by sex maturation and rapid physical development.

Early Adulthood

The age of adjustments to new patterns of life and roles ($18$ to $40$ years), such as being a spouse, parent, or breadwinner.

Middle Age

The transition age ($40$ years to retirement) when adjustments to initial physical and mental decline are experienced.

Old Age

The retirement age from retirement to death characterized by increasingly rapid physical and mental decline.

Emerging Adulthood

A distinct bridge (ages $18$–$25$) characterized by identity exploration, instability, and a high degree of possibility.

Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erik Erikson proposed eight stages that cover the life span, each characterized by a central psychosocial conflict.

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)

During this stage, infants learn to trust their caregivers for basic needs, leading to a sense of security.

2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood)

In this stage, children develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of independence.

3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Age)

Children begin asserting control and power over their environment by planning activities, facing challenges, and initiating tasks.

4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age)

Children need to cope with new social and academic demands, leading to a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)

Teenagers explore different roles and integrate them into a coherent sense of self.

6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)

Young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with others, fostering connection and belonging.

7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)

Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, contributing to society and guiding the next generation.

8. Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity)

As people reflect on their lives, they develop a sense of fulfillment or regret over their life choices.

Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Hope, which arises when an infant learns to trust caregivers for their basic needs.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Will, as children gain a sense of autonomy and independence.

Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Age) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Purpose, as children begin to assert control and power over their environment.

Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Competence, as children cope with new social and academic demands.

Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Fidelity, as teenagers explore and resolve their identities.

Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Love, as young adults form intimate relationships with others.

Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Care, as adults seek to create or nurture things that will outlast them.

Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity) - Virtue

The virtue developed during this stage is Wisdom, as individuals reflect on their lives with a sense of fulfillment or regret.

Autonomy

Sense of self-control

Guilt

Arises as the consequence of taboo and inhibited goals

Inferiority

Explained by early inadequacies

Identity

By the end of this Adolescence, a person must gain a firm

Identity Confusion

Is a syndrome of problems that includes q divided self-image, an inability to establish intimacy, a sense time of urgency, a lack of concentration on required tasks, and a rejection of family or community standards

Intimacy

Is the ability to fuse one's identity with that of another person without fear of losing it

Isolation

Is the “incapability to take chances with one's identity by sharing true intimacy”

Generativity

Is defined as “the generation of new beings as well as new products and new ideas. It is concerned with establishing and guiding the next generation

Stagnation

Happens when people become too absorbed in themselves and become too self-indulgent

Integrity

Means a feeling of wholeness and coherence, an ability to hold together one's sense if “I-ness”

Despair

Literally means “to be without hope”

Conception to birth

Pre-Natal

Birth to 2 years

Infancy

2 to 6 years old

Early Childhood

6 to 12 years old

Late Childhood

Puberty to 18 years old

Adolescence

18 to 40 years old

Early Adulthood

40 years to Retirement

Middle Age

Retirement

Old Age

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist best known for discovering classical conditioning—a learning process where a biological stimulus is paired with a previously neutral stimulus.

Tabula rasa

Latin for "blank slate"—is the psychological and philosophical theory that individuals are born without innate or pre-existing mental content.