Developmental Stages and Theories Review

This set of flashcards covers major developmental theories including Freud's psychosexual stages, Piaget's stages of cognitive development, Erikson's psychosocial stages, and Mahler's object relations/separation-individuation theory.

Id

Part of the psyche that includes a human's basic, instinctual drives.

Ego (Freud)

The component of the psyche that attempts to mediate between the id and reality.

Superego

Reflects the internalization of cultural rules usually learned from parents.

Oral Stage

Freud's first stage ($Birth-1\,\text{year}$) where an infant's primary interaction is through the mouth, deriving pleasure from tasting and sucking.

Anal Stage

Freud's stage from ages $1-3\,\text{years}$ where the focus is on controlling bladder and bowel movements and toilet training.

Phallic Stage

Freud's stage from ages $3-6\,\text{years}$ where focus is on the genitals and children become aware of their gender identity.

Latent Stage

Freud's stage from age $6$ to puberty where sexual feelings are dormant and social skills and peer relationships are developed.

Genital Stage

Freud's stage from puberty to adulthood where the libido becomes active again and people develop a strong interest in sex.

Disequilibrium

In Piaget's theory, a state brought on by a discrepancy between a person’s current understanding of the world and reality, serving as motivation for cognitive development.

Assimilation

The incorporation of new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation

The modification of existing schemas to fit new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's stage ($Birth\,\text{to}\,2\,\text{years}$) where children learn primarily through sensory input and action.

Object Permanence

The achievement during the sensorimotor stage where a child recognizes that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight.

Causality

The recognition that certain events cause other events, such as moving a toy with one's hand.

Symbolic Thought

When a child begins to use language (symbols) to think about actions before performing them.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's stage from ages $2\,\text{to}\,7\,\text{years}$ characterized by the symbolic function, mental images, language, and symbolic play.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's stage from ages $7\,\text{to}\,11\,\text{years}$ where children are capable of logic and abstract thinking to classify and problem-solve.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's stage for ages $11+\,\text{years}$ where individuals think abstractly, hypothetically, and relativistically.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson’s first stage ($0-18\,\text{months}$) focused on achieving a balance of trust based on the relationship with the primary caregiver.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Erikson’s stage for ages $18\,\text{months}\,\text{to}\,3\,\text{years}$ where the toddler seeks to achieve independence over their own body.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson’s stage for ages $3-6\,\text{years}$ involving the task of setting goals and carrying out plans without infringing on others' rights.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson’s stage for ages $6-12\,\text{years}$ where a child develops competence and pride through school and peer groups.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erikson’s stage for ages $12-18\,\text{years}$ where the adolescent learns adult roles and develops personal identity.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson’s stage for ages $18-40\,\text{years}$ focused on forming intimate, committed relationships.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Erikson’s stage for ages $40-65\,\text{years}$ where individuals participate in activities that provide purpose, such as career or raising children.

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Erikson’s stage from age $65\,\text{to}\,\text{death}$ involving looking back on life for fulfillment and wisdom versus regret.

Object Relations

Mahler’s concept referring to how a child's ego becomes organized over the first $3.5\,\text{years}$ through the relationship with the parent.

Autistic Stage

Mahler's stage ($Newborn-1\,\text{month}$) where the infant is focused purely on themselves and unresponsive to external stimuli.

Symbiotic Stage

Mahler's stage ($1-5\,\text{months}$) where the infant perceives the parent as a separate, need-satisfying object, though the parent’s ego functions for them.

Separation-Individuation Stage

Mahler's stage ($5-24\,\text{months}+$) where the infant develops boundaries of self and sees the caretaker as a separate individual.

Differentiation Substage

Mahler's substage ($5-9\,\text{months}$) where the infant's attention shifts from inwardly to outwardly focused.

Practicing Substage

Mahler's substage ($9-14\,\text{months}$) where autonomous ego functions like walking and playing become apparent.

Rapprochement Substage

Mahler's substage ($14-24\,\text{months}$) where the infant acts independently but returns to the caregiver for reassurance.

Object Constancy Substage

Mahler's substage after $24\,\text{months}$ where the infant understands the parent exists even in their absence.