Erikson's Stages of Development

These flashcards cover the vocabulary and stages of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, including the central conflicts and characteristic behaviors for each life stage.

Psychosocial

The interplay between our inner, emotional lives (psycho) and our outer, social circumstances (social).

Erik Erikson

A psychologist who believed that individuals construct psychosocial identities throughout their whole lives across eight stages of development.

Oral-Sensory Stage

The first stage of development, encompassing the first year of life, defined by the conflict of trust vs. mistrust.

Trust vs. Mistrust

The conflict where infants learn to trust parents through reliable care and feeding or develop mistrust if they are neglected or abused.

Muscular-Anal Stage

The second stage of development for toddlers between ages 1-3, defined by the conflict between autonomy and shame and doubt.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

The conflict where toddlers develop a sense of independence through exploration or doubt their abilities due to overly restrictive or cautious parenting.

Locomotor Stage

The third stage of development, occurring between ages 3-6, defined by the conflict between initiative and guilt.

Initiative vs. Guilt

The conflict involving a child's need to develop independent decision-making in planning activities versus feeling guilt about their desire for independence.

Latency

The last childhood stage, occurring between ages 6-12, defined by the conflict between industry and inferiority.

Industry vs. Inferiority

The conflict where children gain skills like reading and logic; encouragement leads to motivation (industry), while lack of encouragement leads to feeling unmotivated (inferiority).

Adolescence (Erikson's Stage)

The fifth stage, starting around age 12 and potentially lasting into the twenties, primarily concerned with finding a personal identity.

Identity Crisis

Role confusion experienced during adolescence if an individual is unable to commit to an identity or regrets the identity they have chosen.

Young Adulthood (Erikson's Stage)

The sixth stage where adults who have formed identities look for close, reciprocal relationships like marriage.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

The struggle in young adulthood between finding and keeping close relationships versus feeling alone.

Middle Adulthood (Erikson's Stage)

The seventh stage, typically between ages 40 and 65, defined by the conflict of generativity vs. stagnation.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

The conflict where adults evaluate if they have produced things of value and done enough with their lives.

Late Adulthood (Erikson's Stage)

The final stage of life, usually over age 65, defined by the conflict between ego integrity and despair.

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

The conflict where older adults feel content looking back at a productive life or feel despair if they believe they have wasted their time.