Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

Introduction to Erikson's Theory

Definition and Influences

  • Erikson's 'psychosocial' term combines psychological and social aspects, influenced by Sigmund Freud but expanded to include cultural and social elements.

  • The theory evolves over time, reflecting Erikson's own psychosocial crisis stages and emphasizing personal development.

  • Erikson's model is designed for in-depth analysis of personality, behavior, and personal growth, applicable in education, parenting, conflict resolution, and self-awareness.

Key Concepts and Terminology

  • Erikson's model is known by various terms like biopsychosocial theory or human development cycle, all referring to the same eight stages psychosocial theory.

  • The epigenetic principle in Erikson's theory compares personality development to the unfolding of a rose, with each stage building on previous experiences.

  • Each stage in Erikson's theory involves a psychosocial crisis with two opposing emotional forces, leading to virtues or maladaptations based on successful resolution.

Transition and Mutuality

  • Transition between stages in Erikson's theory is gradual and overlapping, emphasizing organic and interconnected development.

  • Mutuality and generativity play significant roles, highlighting the impact of generations on each other's experiences and development.

Psychosocial Term

  • derived from two words namely psychological and social
- analysis of personality & behaviour

Malignancy

  • worse of the two, little positive and too much of the negative aspect.

Maladaptation

  • not quite as bad, involves too much of the positive and too little of negative

Virtue or Psychosocial Strength

  • successfully passing through each crisis and involves " achieving".

Mutuality

  • effect of generation on each other

Generativity

significant relationship between adults and the best interest of children.

Trust vs Mistrust (infancy)

  • to develop must without completely eliminating the capacity for mistrust - sense of familiarity, consistency and continuity or apprehensive and suspicious around people.

  • maladaptation - sensory maladjustment: overly trusting, gullible.

  • malignancy - withdrawal: depression, paranoid, and possibly psychosis.

  • virtue - hope: everything will work out in the end.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (18 months to 4 years old)

  • develop a sense of autonomy or independence or deeply ashamed and doubt his/her abilities.

  • maladaptation: impulsiveness shameless willfulness

  • malignancy: compulsiveness entire being rides on everything they do and everything must be done perfectly.

  • virtue - willpower or determination

  • “can do” is there motto

Initiative vs Guilt ( 3 year old to 6 years old)

  • learn initiative without too much guilt

  • maladaptation: ruthlessness: to be heartless or no mercy, (sociopathy - extreme form)

  • malignancy: inhibition: will not try things because “nothing ventured nothing lost”.

  • virtue - courage: capacity for action, despite a clear understanding of your limitations

Industry vs Inferiority ( 6 years old to 12 years old)

  • develop a capacity for industry while avoiding an excessive sense of inferiority

  • maladaptation: virtuosity: children who are not allowed to be children

  • malignancy: inertia: who suffered from the inferiority complexes

  • virtue - competency: keep us sensibly humble

Identity vs Role Confusion ( 18 years old to 20 years old)

  • achieve egoidentity, and avoid role confusion

  • psychosocial moratorium - take a little time out

  • maladaptation: fanaticism: his/her way is the only way

  • malignancy: repudiation: to reject their need for an identity

  • virtue - fidelity/loyalty

Intimacy vs Isolation ( 18 years old to 30 years old)

  • to achieve some degree of intimacy as opposed to remaining in isolation

  • maladaptation: promiscuity: become intimate to freely and easily without any depth

  • malignancy: exclusion: tendency to isolate from everyone and develop hatefulness in compensation for once loneliness

  • virtue - love

Generativity vs Stagnation ( mid 20’s to 50’s)

  • cultivate the proper balance of generativity and stagnation

  • maladaptation: overextension: illustrates the problem, no time for rest.

  • malignancy: rejectivity: no longer participating in or contributing to society

  • virtue - caring

Integrity vs Despair ( 60 years old - onwards)

  • developed ego integrity with a minimal amount of despair

  • maladaptation: presumption: presumes ego integrity, without actually facing the difficulty of old age. disrespects the view, and ideas of young.

  • malignancy: disdain: contempt of life once own or anyone, the person becomes very negative and appears to hate life.

  • virtue - wisdom