Social-Emotional Development

stages of social-emotional development

created by Erik Erikson

trust vs. mistrust

1st stage (infancy: 0-23 months)

• learning to trust the world + those around us

• caregivers must consistently meet babies needs

• consequences of not developing it - more likely to experience loneliness

autonomy vs shame + doubt

2nd stage (early childhood: 2-4 yrs)

• developing a sense of independence + control

• excessive help from parents can produce a person w/ self-doubt, low self-esteem, + perceived lack of control

initiative vs guilt

3rd stage (preschool age: 4-5yrs)

• develop the desire to try new things

industry vs inferiority

4th stage (school age: 5-12 yrs)

• develop a sense of confidence + sense of what they’re good at

• helps develop self-worth, competence, + pride

identity vs role confusion

5th stage (adolescence: 13-19 yrs)

• “who am I"?”

• impacts on identity: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, occupation, family

• role confusion can result in weak sense of self + difficulty w/ confidence

identity diffusion

no explored identities

identity moratorium

person tries new things (a time period)

identity achievement

commitment to an identity after exploring alternatives

identity foreclosure

committing to an identity w/o exploration, often due to external pressures

intimacy vs isolation

6th stage (early adulthood: 20-39 yrs)

• healthy relationships that foster companionship, love (platonic/romantic) + honesty bring about social support

generativity vs stagnation

7th stage (adulthood: 40-64 yrs)

• aim to create things that outlive the indv. + continues to the future (ex. having a child/or a career)

• stagnation leads to narcissism

integrity vs despair

8th stage (maturity: 65yrs-death)

• looking back on life, people in this stage may feel satisfied/fulfilled or regretful/disappointed