E. Erikson

Psychosocial Stages

eight SUCCESSIVE stages, where we must cope with a crisis in an adaptive or maladaptive way.

Epigenetic Principle of Maturation

inherited forces determine the characterisitcs of the developmental stages.

Erikson’s Personality Theory

personality is developed throught bioloigical, social and environmental factors.

Crisis

a confrontation with our environment; usually involving a shift in perspective requiring a refocus of energy to align with the needs of any given stage.

Responding to Conflict

maladaptive and adaptive

Crisis Resolution

if the crisis is settled, development is normal, else developed is stunted until a settlement is made.

Adaptive Coping

The ego should adopt mostly positve traits and to balance itself to some degree with negative traits.

Basic Strengths

development of positive characteristics that come from the resolution of a developmental crisis.

Trust v. Mistrust Strength

Hope, persistent confidence despite setbacks or reverses.

Conflict from infancy to 1

trust vs mistrust which is dependent on the baby’s social integration with its mother, can cause hope or anxiety.

Conflict from 2 to 3 (Muscular-Oral / Anal Stage)

autonomy vs. doubt/shame which comes with potty training and how they control their bowel movements. Leads to will or self-doubt.

Autonomy vs. Doubt/Shame Strength

Will, exercising autonomy of choice and self-restraint in the face on society’s rules.

Conflict from 3 to 5 (Locomotor-Genital/Phallic)

initative v. guilt which comes from the parental approach with dealing with oedipal relationship. Development of the Freudian superego. Leads to purpose or guilt.

Initiative v. Guilt Strength

Purpose, courage to envision and pursue goals.

Conflict from 6 to 11 (Latency Stage)

industriousness versus inferiority that depends on whether kids are praised or ridiculed for their attempts to do activities. Leads to confidence/competence or inadequacy.

Industriousness V. Inferiority Strength

Competence, is application of skill and intelligence when pursuing a task.

Conflict in Adolescence (12-18)

identity cohesion v. role confusion depends on whether or not in adolescence we resolve the crisis of our basic ego-identity. Leads to an identity crisis or fidelity.

Identity Cohesion V. Role Confusion Strength

fidelity, sense of duty or genuineness in our relationships with others.

Ego Identity

our self-image that integrates our ideas about ourselves and who we want to become.

Identity Crisis

role confusion on who they are, what they want. and where to go.

Conflict from adulthood (18-35)

intimacy versus isolation, that depends on whether or not independence is established, and we gain adult responsibilities.

Intimacy v. Isolation Strength

Love, mutual devotion in a shared identity

Conflict in Actual Adulthood (35-55)

generativity v. stagnation, dependent on teaching and guiding the next generation.

Generativity V. Stagnation Strength

Care, concern for others.

Conflict in Last Stages (55-deaths)

ego integrity v. despair, dependent on the reflection and review of life. Leads to wisdom and continued generativity.

Ego Integrity

a full life with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Despair

is viewing one’s life with a sense of frustration and anger.

Ego Integrity V. Despair Strength

Wisdom, an integration of experience for succeeding generations.

Basic Weaknesses

maladaptive ways of coping with the crisis at each stage of life.

Maldevelopment

an unbalanced type of development where the ego consists of one attitude that is either maladaptive or adaptive.

Maladaptive

when only the positive, adaptive, tendency is present, leads to neuroses.

Malignant

only the negative tendency is present, leads to psychoses.

Nature vs. Nuture

We are not exclusively the product of our childhood experiences. We depend on our parents in the early stages, but the exercise of free will in the last stages.

Human Nature

We are capable of resolving each crisis in adaptive and maladaptive way and there is room for change at a later stage.

Play Therapy

provided toys and observed how children interacted with them, whether it was the intensity or form of play.

Psycho-historical Analysis

biographical studies where Erikson focused on a significant crisis, then adopted his patient’s viewpoint to assess life events through that person’s eyes.

Ego Identity Scale

was developed to measure the development of ego during adolescence.

Ego Identity Process Questionnaire

32 question tests to measure the dimensions of exploration and commitment in adolescents.

The Loyola Generativity Scale

20 question self-report to measure the level of generativity or stagnation in adulthood.

Moratorium

taking time out to explore various paths; crucial to building a solid adult identity.

Identity Confusion

a failure to resolve identity crisis, marked by the lack of sense of a future adult path

Diffusion

not yet experienced an identity crisis or made any commitments

Foreclosure

made a commitment but not yet experienced a crisis

Achievement

end result where identity formation is complete. Undergone a crisis, made commitment

Criticisms

Difficulty to test, overly optimistic, and conformity.