Erik Erikson
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Transcript of Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson
Like Freud, personality develops in stages
Focuses on social experiences across the life span
Development of ego identity Conscious sense of
self we develop through social interaction
Erikson Each stage is
concerned with being competent in an area
Handle well=mastery Handle poorly =
inadequacy Each stage has a
conflict that serves as a turning point in development
Erikson
Develop a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality
Potential for growth and failure is high
ERIK ERIKSON Born in Germany in 1902. In grammar school, he was
teased for being Jewish. He did not feel comfortable
(at a very early age) as a German or a Jew.
This feeling was a basis for his later theory of “identity crisis”
In 1920’s, he met Sigmund Freud’s daughter (Anna) and studied under her in Vienna.
Moved to U.S. in 1933 and taught at Yale, Harvard, and UCal at Berkeley.
Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development Trust vs. Mistrust Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Initiative vs. Guilt Industry vs. Inferiority Identity vs. Confusion Intimacy vs. Isolation Generativity vs. Stagnation Integrity vs. Despair
Infancy and Early Childhood
Trust vs. Mistrust (birth – 1 year) Fundamental stage Infants are dependent:
need to develop trust Based on
dependability & quality of caregivers
If develops trust: safe and secure
Failure: fear and a belief that the world is inconsistent and unpredictable
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (early childhood)
Focused on children developing a greater sense of personal control
Toilet training was a vital part of process
Learning to control one’s body function leads to sense of control and independence
Control over food, toys, and clothes
Success: secure and confident Failure: inadequacy and self-
doubt Build self-esteem and
autonomy as we gain control Develop will
Preschool, Middle Childhood, and Adolescence
Initiative vs. Guilt (preschool years)
Children begin to assert their power and control
Play and social interaction
Successful: capable and able to lead others
Failure: sense of guilt, self-doubt, and lack of initiative
Industry vs. Inferiority: (5 to 11)
Through social interactions: sense of pride in accomplishments and abilities
Encouraged and commended by parents and teachers: develop a feeling of competence and belief in their skills
Little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, and peers: doubt ability to succeed
Industry: accomplishing new skills and knowledge
Identity vs. Confusion: 12 to 18
Exploring independence, developing sense of self
Receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration: strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control
Unsure of beliefs and desires= insecure and confused about themselves and future
Up to this point: development is based upon what is done to us
Here on out is what we do! Social interaction, moral issues
ADOLESCENCE: 12 to 18 con’t Our task is to discover who we are as
individuals separate from our family of origin and as members of a wider society.
And if we are unsuccessful in navigating this stage, we will experience role confusion and upheaval.
ADOLESCENCE (18-35) A significant task for us is to establish a
philosophy of life and in this process we tend to think in terms of ideals, which are conflict free, rather than reality, which is not.
The problem is that we don't have much experience and find it easy to substitute ideals for experience. However, we can also develop strong devotion to friends and causes.
It is no surprise that our most significant relationships are with peer groups.
Young Adulthood, Middle Age, Old Age
Intimacy vs. Isolation: early adulthood Seek companions and
love Attempt to find mutually
satisfying relationships through marriage and friends
Start a family Successful: intimacy on a
deep level Failure: isolation and
distance from others , if no satisfying relationships our world shrinks
Generativity vs. Stagnation: 35 to 55/65
Continue to build our lives Focus on career and family Success: feel like they are
contributing to the world by being active in their home and community
Fail: unproductive and uninvolved, self-absorbed and stagnate
Creative and meaningful work
Children leave home, mid-life crisis, new meanings and purposes
Integrity vs. Despair: 55 to 65 to Death Much of life is preparing for the
middle adulthood stage and the last stage is recovering from it
Reflecting back on life Perhaps that is because as
older adults we can often look back on our lives with happiness and are content, feeling fulfilled with a deep sense that life has meaning and we've made a contribution to life, a feeling Erikson calls integrity.
On the other hand, some adults may reach this stage and despair at their experiences and perceived failures.