Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Developmental theory of the Self

Trust vs Mistrust

This psychosocial stage occurs when an infant learns whether or not they can trust their caregivers to meet their needs.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

This stage occurs when a child begins developing independence and control over their actions, but may feel shame or doubt if discouraged.

Initiative vs Guilt

This stage is characterized by children taking initiative in planning activities and asserting power, but they may feel guilty if their efforts are criticized.

Industry vs Inferiority

In this stage, children work to gain competence through learning skills and completing tasks, but may feel inferior if they believe they are not capable.

Identity vs Role confusion

This stage focuses on adolescents exploring personal values, beliefs, and goals in order to develop a strong sense of self.

Intimacy vs Isolation

This psychosocial stage occurs when young adults seek to build deep emotional relationships with others but may experience loneliness if they fail to connect.

Generativity vs Stagnation

This stage involves adults contributing to society, helping the next generation, and being productive, otherwise they may feel stagnant or unproductive.

Integrity vs Despair

In this stage, older adults reflect on their life and feel a sense of fulfillment or regret depending on how they evaluate their experiences.

Ego

The concept in Erikson’s theory that represents the positive force that contributes to identity formation and development of virtues.

Psychosocial Crisis

These are the challenges or turning points experienced in every stage of Erikson’s theory that must be resolved for healthy development.

Identity Formation

The process of developing a unique sense of self that is separate from parental expectations.

Psychoanalytic Approach

This psychological approach focuses on unconscious conflicts and dynamic forces within the self that influence behavior.

Id

This structure of personality seeks immediate gratification and operates according to the pleasure principle.

Ego

This structure of personality operates based on the reality principle and mediates between desires and morality.

Superego

This personality structure represents conscience and moral standards and operates on the morality principle.

Pleasure Principle

This principle explains the tendency to seek immediate pleasure and avoid pain.

Reality Principle

This principle guides behavior according to what is realistic and socially acceptable.

Morality Principle

This principle refers to the moral standards that guide behavior and make individuals feel guilty when rules are violated.

Oral Stage

This stage of psychosexual development occurs from birth to about one year and involves pleasure through sucking and biting.

Anal Stage

This stage of psychosexual development occurs around two years old and focuses on pleasure from controlling body waste elimination.

Phallic Stage

This stage occurs between ages 3 and 6 where children become curious about their genitals and gender differences.

Latency Stage

This stage occurs from around 7 to 12 years old when sexual energy is repressed and children focus on school and social activities.

Genital Stage

This stage begins in adolescence and involves sexual maturity and development of sexual relationships.

Fixation

This term refers to unresolved conflicts in a psychosexual stage that lead to lasting personality traits.

Oral Dependent Personality

This personality outcome may result from overindulgence during the oral stage and is associated with behaviors like overeating, smoking, or alcoholism.

Oral Aggression

This personality trait may develop from oral dissatisfaction and is characterized by sarcasm or tactlessness.

Anal Retentive Personality

This personality trait associated with anal fixation involves excessive cleanliness, orderliness, and control.

Anal Expulsive Personality

This personality trait linked to anal fixation involves messiness, clumsiness, or disorganization.

Archetypes

These are universal patterns or models that shape human roles, behaviors, and experiences.

Personal Unconscious

This part of the unconscious contains forgotten experiences unique to an individual.

Archetype

This concept refers to the hidden potentials of the psyche or the total personality.

Collective Unconscious

This level of the unconscious contains shared memories and experiences common to all human beings.

Persona

This archetype refers to the social roles or masks that individuals present to others.

Shadow

This archetype represents the repressed, socially unacceptable thoughts and the dark side of the psyche.

Animus

This archetype represents the masculine aspect within the female psyche.

Anima

This archetype represents the feminine aspect within the male psyche.

Self

This archetype is considered the center that unites all parts of the psyche.

Ego

This concept refers to an individual’s conscious perception or awareness of the self.

Agency

This term refers to the capacity of individuals to influence their functioning, development, and life circumstances.

Intentionality

This component of human agency refers to making plans of action and acting with purpose toward expected outcomes.

Forethought

This component of agency refers to the ability to anticipate the consequences of future actions.

Self - Reactiveness

This component of agency involves regulating and motivating oneself to carry out actions and make choices.

Self - Reflectiveness

This component of agency refers to examining and evaluating one’s own thoughts and actions.

Self - Efficacy

This belief refers to a person’s confidence in their ability to perform tasks and achieve goals.

Role Identities

These refer to the different components or identities of a person that may be active at different times (e.g., student, dancer).

Symbolic Interactionism

This sociological perspective emphasizes that relationships and interactions with others shape the development of the self.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

This concept refers to a prediction that becomes true because people behave in ways that confirm the expectation.

Looking-Glass Self

This concept describes the process of imagining how other people perceive and judge us.

Self-Concept

This term refers to the image or perception a person has of themselves.

Carl Rogers

This psychologist defined the self as a flexible and changing perception of personal identity.

Self - Actualization

This concept refers to the natural human tendency to strive for fulfillment and realizing one’s potential.

Real Self

This component of self-concept refers to the awareness of what a person actually is and what they can do.

Ideal Self

This component of self-concept refers to what a person believes they should be or hopes to become.

Incongruence

This condition occurs when there is a large gap between the real self and the ideal self, leading to dissatisfaction.

Congruence

This condition occurs when the real self and ideal self are closely aligned, leading to happiness and fulfillment.

William James

This psychologist proposed that the self is divided into the I-Self and the Me-Self.

I-self

This part of the self refers to the “thinking self” that is aware of who a person is.

Me-self

This part of the self refers to the empirical self based on a person’s experiences.

material self

This component of the Me-Self refers to physical attributes and material possessions that shape self-image.

Social self

This component of the Me-Self refers to how a person behaves in different social situations.

Spiritual Self

This component of the Me-Self refers to the inner values, conscience, and moral beliefs of an individual.