Erik Erikson

Group Members

Malik Muhammad Bilal

M Zumard Rizwan Shah

Introduction Born in Germany on June 15th

1902.

He was an artist and a teacher in the late 1920s

He immigrated to the US in 1933 and taught at Yale and Harvard University.

He became interested in the influence of society and culture on child development.

Field of Research He studied groups of children to learn about the

influence of society and culture on child development.

Erikson’s theory consists of eight stages of development. Each stage is characterized by a different conflict that must be resolved by the individual before moving to next stage.

Theory of development stages

Stage 1: Basic Trust vs. Mistrust

Birth to age 1Totally dependent on others If needs are fulfilled child develops trust, If not child develops mistrust

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Ages 1-3Child becomes able of

making choice If child’s independence is opposed,

child develops feelings of self-doubt, shame in dealing with others

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt

Ages 3-5Child show desire to take initiative in

activitiesParents punishment can develop guilt that

will affect self-directed activity throughout life

Stage 4: Industriousness vs. Inferiority

Ages 6-11Child develops cognitive abilities to enable

in task completion (school work, play)Parents/teachers do not support child’s

efforts, child develops feelings of inferiority and inadequacy

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Ages 12-18Form ego identity or self-image Identity crisis or confusion of ego identity

Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation

Ages 18-35Undertake productive work and establish

intimate relationships Inability to establish intimacy leads to

social isolation

Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation

Ages 35-55Active involvement in teaching/guiding the

next generationStagnation-stage of inactivity

Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Ages 55+People evaluate their past life Integrity: Look back with satisfactionDespair: Review with anger, frustration

Ambiguous terms and conceptsLack of precision Most of the research was on malesSome terms are not easily measureable

empirically

Erikson’s Contributions He worked for child development by studying

groups of Native American children and developed the concept of identity crisis.

He was concerned with the relationship between society/culture and child development, which he termed “psychosocial development”.

He studied Impact of social, cultural, personal and situational forces in forming personality.

The end