Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Development

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development, ego strengths, and core developmental principles.

View of the Person

The perspective that individuals strive to develop inherent potential, know and accept themselves, and feel at home with their characteristics within their social environment.

Ego (Erikson's view)

A creative agent that develops throughout life according to a genetically determined ground plan, making choices among different developmental possibilities to solve crises.

Epigenetic principle

The principle stating that personality characteristics emerge at certain ages in a genetically determined sequence, following a genetically determined ground plan.

Developmental crises

Points at which the ego must choose between two complementary opposites resulting from the interaction between genetics and social influences.

Ego strength

A quality or virtue attained through the successful resolution and synthesis of complementary opposites during a developmental crisis.

Organ modes

Pregenital forms of behaviour related to specific needs, such as sucking, which form the basic pattern for a variety of adult behaviours.

Mode of incorporation

A psychosocial modality associated with the intake of food and the mouth, central to the first year of development.

Mode of expulsion

A psychosocial modality related to the anal functions of retention and excretion during the second year of life.

Mode of inclusion and intrusion

The psychosocial modality involving the ability to intrude on others' lives or include them, arising during the age of $3$ to $6$ years.

Ritual

A pattern of action repeated more or less exactly under certain circumstances, often playful and determined by culture.

Trust vs. Mistrust

The first developmental stage ($1\text{st}$ year) where trust in the environment depends on the quality of the mother-child relationship.

Hope

The ego strength associated with the resolution of the Trust vs. Mistrust stage.

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt

The second developmental stage ($2\text{nd}$ year) focusing on anal functions and the development of willpower.

Will-power

The ego strength developed when a child exercises autonomy without being overwhelmed by unnecessary failure.

Initiative vs. Guilt

The third developmental stage ($3 - 6$ years) involving independence of movement and the development of a conscience.

Purpose

The ego strength resulting from a balance between childlike enthusiasm and self-judgment.

Industry vs. Inferiority

The fourth developmental stage ($6 - 12$ years) where recognition is gained through producing things and acquiring cultural skills.

Competence

The ego strength defined as a sense of proficiency required for participating in cultural processes of productivity.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

The fifth developmental stage ($12 - 25$ years) where individuals examine their identity amidst physical changes and social pressures.

Reliability

The ego strength achieved when an individual gains certainty about their identity.

Moratorium

A period created by society that allows individuals to be 'patient' in their search for identity.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

The developmental stage of early adulthood involving the sharing of identity with another through sacrifice and compromise.

Love

The ego strength resulting from the synthesis of intimacy and isolation.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

The developmental stage ($25 - 65 \text{ years}$) focused on developing the self and passing knowledge to the next generation.

Care

The ego strength attained by participating meaningfully in life and feeling needed by others.

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

The final developmental stage ($60 - 70 \text{ years}$) where individuals look back on their lives with a sense of uniqueness.

Wisdom

The ego strength resulting from the synthesis of integrity and despair near the end of life.

Optimal Development

The successful completion of crises at each stage, resulting in all ego strengths and a fundamental unity between the individual and society.

Pathology in Erikson's Theory

Mental illness rooted in the negative poles of developmental stages, such as schizophrenia being linked to a lack of basic trust.