Erikson Psychosocial Theories

Erikson psychosocial theories emphasizes on

Systematic changes in self-understanding and social relationships across the lifespan. Development results from continuous interaction of individual and social environments. Each stage brings crises between one’s competencies and the new demands of society. The goal is for social adaptation in society.

Mention all of the 8 stages

trust vs mistrust (infancy; 0-1 years old), autonomy vs shame and doubt (infancy; 1-3 years old), initiative vs guilt (early childhood; 3-5 years old), industry vs inferiority (middle & late childhood; 6-puberty), identity vs identity confusion (adolescence; 10 to 20 years old), Intimacy vs isolation (early adulthood; 20s to 30s), generativity vs stagnation (middle adulthood; 40s to 50s), Integrity vs despair (late adulthood’ 60s onward)

Characteristics of trust vs mistrust (infant 0-1 y.o)?

infant learn trust: cared in a consistent, warm manner; Infant learn mistrust: Infant not well fed and kept warm on consistent basis

Characteristics of autonomy vs shame and doubt (infant 0-3 y.o)?

Autonomy builds as infant’s mental and motor abilities developed. Infants feel pride in their new accomplishments such as climb, walk and want to do everything themselves.

Independence: Parents aware that children have motivation to do what they are capable of doing at their own pace

Shame & Doubt: Parents not patience, rushed children, consistently overprotect the children, and criticize children

Characteristics of initiative vs guilt (3-5 y.o)?

Intiative: Children explore new areas that seem desirables-even if dangerous-

Guilt: their initiative not always give them reward but also guilt, which lowers self-esteem

Characteristics of industry vs inferiority (6-puberty)

Children become interesting in how things are made and work.

Industry: when children encouraged in their efforts to make, build, and work

Inferiority: parents who view their children’s effort as mischief or making mess

Characteristics of identity vs role confusion (adolescence; 10-20 y.o)

Individuals who successfully cope with conflicting identities emerge with a new sense of self. Whereby, Individuals that have role confusion will either withdraw themselves or immerse themselves in the world of peers and lose their identity in the crowd

Characteristics of intimacy vs isolation (Early adult; 20-40 y.o)

The developmental task is forming intimate relationship. It will be achieved if individuals form healthy friendships and intimate relationship. Isolation will happen if they are fail to develop an intimate relationship

Characteristics of Generativity vs Stagnation (Middle adulthood; 30-60 y.o)

They have need to leave legacy of themselves to the next generation. Stagnation developed when individual sense that they have done nothing for the next generation

Adult can develop generativity in number ways. Biological generativity by having offspring, parental generativity, by nurturing children, cultural generativity, by conserving culture, and through work generativity adult passed down the skills to others

Characteristics of integrity vs despair (Late adulthood; 60 y.o onwards)

Adult doing retrospectively thinking about what they have done. If they satisfied, then they have developed integrity. If they do not satisfy then they developed despair