Erikson's Theory and Attachment Theory

Erik Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

• Emphasizes development throughout the lifespan.

• Individuals face developmental tasks with central conflicts at each stage.

• Eight stages:

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

  • Toddlerhood (1-3 years): Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

  • Preschool years (3-6 years): Initiative vs. Guilt

  • Elementary school years (7-11 years): Industry vs. Inferiority

  • Adolescence (12-18 years): Identity vs. Role Confusion

  • Early adulthood (19-29 years): Intimacy vs. Isolation

  • Middle adulthood (30-64 years): Generativity vs. Stagnation

  • Late adulthood (65+ years): Integrity vs. Despair

Attachment Theory

• Developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth.

• Children need a "secure base" (reliable caregiver).

• Securely attached: comfortable exploring, knowing they can return to caregiver.

• Insecurely attached: don't see caregiver as secure base.

Mary Ainsworth's "Strange Situation"

• Observed attachment styles in infants via lab experiment.

Attachment Styles Observed

• Secure: Distressed when caregiver leaves, calms down upon return (most common).

• Anxious: Highly distressed when caregiver leaves, remains distressed upon return (inconsistent caregiver).

• Avoidant: Little distress when caregiver leaves, indifference upon return (inattentive caregiver).

Relevance for Adult Relationships

• Internal working model: cognitive schema for people based on childhood attachment.

• Secure attachment: view people as trustworthy, easier to form relationships.

• Insecure attachment: view people as untrustworthy, harder to get close.

• Adult attachment styles:

  • Anxious/Preoccupied: clingy.

  • Avoidant/Dismissing: aloof, self-reliant.

  • Fearful: high avoidance and anxiety.

• Attachment styles can change over time.

• Possible to have different attachment styles with different people.