Psychosocial Theories Notes

Metatheory Perspectives

Dispositional: Focuses on stable qualities in people.
Biological: Emphasizes biological processes influencing behavior.
Psychoanalytic: Centers on competition among internal psychic forces.
Neoanalytic: Highlights social relationships.
Learning: Deals with behavior change through experience.
Phenomenological: Focuses on subjective experience and self-actualization.
Cognitive: Examines patterns arising from cognitive processes.

Key Concepts in Psychosocial Theories

Focus: Ego (self) and relations with others.
Central Theme: Issues of trust.
Root: Behavior and individual differences are rooted in relationships.
Overlap: Patterns of relating established early in childhood recur throughout life.

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

Follows: Freudian Neoanalytical Theory.
Focuses on: Impact of social phenomena on ego identity (sense of self).
Emphasizes: Complex relationships between the individual, family, and culture.
Development: Occurs across the lifespan.

Key Ideas

Main Task: Achieve a sense of identity or self.
Development: Unfolds across a sequence of stages.
Crisis: Need to resolve issues at each stage; each stage is a critical point.
Influence: Environment and experience affect issue resolution.
Circle of Influence: Ever-widening.

Crises and Mastery

Crisis: A turning point with high potential for growth but also vulnerability.
Qualities: Struggle between attaining a psychological quality and failing to attain it.
Competence: Resolved crises lead to competence, improving the ability to face future stages.
Inadequacy: Unresolved crises may lead to inadequacy but not necessarily complete failure in the next stage.

Implications of Erikson’s Theory

Influence: Earlier crises influence later ones.
Solutions: Solutions for past crises prepare for upcoming crises.
Quality: Once established, a quality remains part of the personality.
Dynamic Personality: Personality is not static but constantly modified.
Forces: Biological maturation and social expectation move individuals from stage to stage.

Erikson’s 8 Stages of Development

Normative Sequence: Stages follow a normative sequence.
Age Ranges: Erikson was reluctant to specify exact ages.

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy, 0-1 year)

Crisis: Basic trust vs. mistrust; outcome is hope.
Trust: Develops when needs are met with comfort and minimum pain/fear.
Mistrust: Arises from unsatisfactory experiences, leading to fear.

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Toddler, 2-3 years)

Crisis: Autonomy vs. shame & doubt; outcome is will.
Autonomy: Develops from self-control without loss of self-esteem.
Shame & Doubt: Occurs when not given sufficient protection/freedom.

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool, 3-5 years)

Crisis: Initiative vs. guilt; outcome is purpose.
Initiative: Develops through opportunities to take initiative and make decisions.
Guilt: Arises from a sense of guilt over goals contemplated/acts initiated.

Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority (School, 6-12 years)

Crisis: Industry vs. inferiority; outcome is competence.
Industry: Develops through mastering tasks and skills valued by society.
Inferiority: Results from feeling judged as incompetent.

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence, 12-18 years)

Crisis: Identity vs. role confusion; outcome is fidelity.
Identity: Knowing who we are and achieving a sense of private and social self.
Role Confusion: Results from not exploring alternatives and developing a sense of identity.

Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood, 20s-30s)

Crisis: Intimacy vs. isolation; outcome is love.
Intimacy: Develops through close, warm relationships.
Isolation: Results from an inability to confidently give and receive love.

Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation (Mid-Adulthood, 40s-60s)

Crisis: Generativity vs. stagnation; outcome is care.
Generativity: Develops through contributing to the future.
Stagnation: Results from boredom and apathy.

Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood, 60s+)

Crisis: Ego integrity vs. despair; outcome is wisdom.
Integrity: Develops through acceptance of life and a sense of dignity.
Despair: Results from unhappiness with self and achievements.

The Balance

Epigenetic Principle: Readiness for each crisis from birth.
Negotiation: People develop a balance of qualities at each stage.
Ego Needs: To incorporate both sides of the conflict, ideally toward the positive side.
Resolution: Revisited and reshaped at each stage of life.

Implications

Life Stories: People construct identities or life stories that are constantly rewritten.
Environmental Influence: Strong and constant influence on personality.
Opportunities: Crises provide opportunities to help resolve issues.
Lifelong Development: Personality continues to develop throughout life.

Links with Other Psychosocial Theories

Trust: Permeates all psychosocial theories.
Object Relations: Imply a sense of trust for investment in others.
Attachment: Trust is key in secure attachment.

Problems in Behavior

Rooted: In relationship issues.
Narcissism: May stem from inadequate childhood mirroring.
Insecure Attachment: Creates risk for depression.

Therapy

Methods: Play therapy for children.
Emphasis: On the role of relationships.
Desire: To restore a sense of connection.

The Ecological Model

Development: Occurs within a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels.
Focus: Impact of social and cultural factors.
Structure: Nested structures, like Russian dolls.

Levels of the Ecological Model

Microsystem: Immediate surroundings (family, school, work).
Mesosystem: Relationships between microsystems.
Exosystem: Social settings outside the individual (school board, workplace).
Macrosystem: Laws, values, and customs of culture.
Chronosystem: Influence of time in history and changes over time.

Implications of the Ecological Model

Multiple Levels: Support/intervention at various levels.
In-Depth Viewpoint: Acknowledges levels of influence.