Erik Erikson’sSTAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Erik Homburger Erikson• Father of Psychosocial Development • His theory, Post-Freudian Theory• Coined the term identity crises, (a turning point in one’s life

that may either strengthen or weaken one’s personality.)• A world fame Psychoanalyst, Anthropologist,

Psychohistorian and a Medical School Professor. Yet he had no college degree of any kind.

• Intended his theory of personality to extend rather than repudiate Freud’s Psychoanalysis and to offer a new “way of looking things”.

• Regards his theory as the extension of Freud’s Psychoanalysis.

• His theory is a reflection of his own background, that consist of arts, extensive travels, experiences with varied culture and a lifelong search for his own identity.

IntroductionAn understanding of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development requires awareness of several basic points. The word Psychosocial Psycho relates to mind, brain and personality. Social which means the external relationships and environment. Bio psychosocial, in which Bio refers to life as in biological. The theory is a basis for broad or complex discussion and analysis of personality and behavior, and also facilitating personal development – of self and others. Why? Because, this can help the teacher in becoming more knowledgeable and at the same time understanding of the various environmental factors that affect his own and his students personality and behavior.

Growth takes place according to epigenetic principle, which states that a person's development is predetermined. Also, in every stage of life there is an interaction of opposites, a conflict between;

Syntonic- A harmonious element (e.g., Trust) &Dystonic- A disruptive element. (e.g., Mistrust)

Erikson conditioned that people must have these two experiences in order to grow. At each stage of conflict between the two elements, a person develops an ego quality or strength or basic strength (e.g., develops hope, behind conflicts) that allows a person to move to the next stage. In dealing with the conflicts,

each stage has also a core pathology in which a person has a tendency to develop the opposite strength (e.g., develops withdrawal).

Erikson’s eight stages of development never lose the sight to biological aspect of human development, he believes that events in the earlier stage but ego is shape by the multiplicity of conflicts and events (past, present and future) that causes an individual to experience identity crises, and this is not a catastrophic event but rather an opportunity to maladaptive or adaptive adjustment.

STAGE 1 InfancyOral-sensory (0-1 year old)

Trust vs. Mistrust

Psychosocial Crisis: The first stage is infancy, is approximately the first year or year and a half of life. The goal is to develop trust without completely eliminating the capacity for mistrust. If the primary caregivers, like the parents can give the baby a sense of familiarity, consistency, and continuity, then the baby will develop the feeling that the world is a safe place to be, that people are reliable and loving.

Maladaptation MalignancySensory Maladjustment: Overly trusting, even gullible, this person cannot believe anyone would mean them harm, and will use all the defenses at their command to find an explanation or excuse for the person who did him wrong.

Withdrawal: characterized by depression, paranoia, and possibly psychosis.

If the proper balance is achieved, the child will develop the virtue of Hope.

Basic Strength

STAGE 2 Early ChildhoodMuscular-Anal (2-3 years old)

Autonomy vs. Doubt

He begins to make choices and express his will. If encouraged, he develops a sense of autonomy and independence. In this stage Erikson believes that the child may develops a sense of doubt and shame manifested in feelings of worthless and incompetence. We should keep in mind that even something as innocent as laughing at the toddler’s efforts can lead the child to feel deeply ashamed and to doubt his or her abilities.

Impulsiveness – a sort of shameless willfulness that leads you, in a later childhood and even adulthood, to jump into things without proper consideration of your abilities.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Compulsiveness – feels as if their entire being rides on everything they do, and so everything must be done perfectly.

If you get the proper, positive balance of autonomy and shame and doubt, you will develop the virtue of willpower or determination.

Basic Strength

STAGE 3 Play AgeLocomotor-Genital (4-5 years old)

Initiative vs. Guilt

Psychosocial crisis: Child begins to explore his social and physical worlds discovering what he can accomplish. Erikson refers to this as a time for developing a sense of initiative or a positive attitude of personal accomplishment. At this time, the child gradually becomes aware of the various social roles presented by his environment. In Erikson’s view, the basic influence during this period is the child’s families who can help him learn to be responsible for his behavior and actions.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Ruthlessness – to be heartless or unfeeling or be “without mercy”.

Inhibition - the inhibited person will not try things because “nothing ventured, nothing lost” and, particularly, nothing to feel guilty about.

Basic Strength

A good balance leads to the psychosocial strengths of purpose.

STAGE 4 School AgeLatency (6-11 years old)

Industry vs. Inferiority

Psychosocial Crisis: the child’s world broadens technical skills are learned and feelings of competence, enlarged. Children enter new world of the neighborhood and the school. In Erikson’s view, when children come to believe that they cannot achieve according to their school, family, or peers, their sense of mastery will give way to personal inferiority. Thus, they become incapable of facing the transitory adolescent years which lie directly ahead. Parents must encourage, teachers must care, peers must accept.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Narrow Virtuosity: we see this in children who aren’t allowed to “be children” the ones that parents or teachers push into one area of competence, without allowing the development of broader interests.

Inertia: this includes all of us who suffer from the “inferiority complexes” Alfred Adler talked about.

A happier thing is to develop the right balance of industry and inferiority a– that is, mostly industry with just a touch of inferiority to keep us sensibly humble. Then we have the virtue called competency.

Virtue

STAGE 5 Adolescence (12-18 years old)

Identity vs. Role confusion

Psychosocial Crisis: According to Erikson, is characterized by an identity – formation crisis. The question “Who am I and what can I do when I become an adult?” confronts the adolescent. His struggle is based not only on societal demands as an emerging adult, but also on the pubescent age. Since an adolescent spends more time with his friend, the peer group now becomes an essential source of general rules of behavior.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Fanaticism – believes that his way is the only way.

Repudiation – they reject their membership in the world of adults and, even more, they reject their need for an identity.

Virtue

If you successfully negotiate this stage, you will have the virtue Erikson called fidelity.

STAGE 6 Young Adulthood (19-40 years old)

Intimacy vs.

Isolation

In this stage the individual develops a warm and intimate relationship with another person. If such sense of intimacy is not acquired during this time of life, a sense of isolation develop instead. Such attitude is reflected in the ability to trust others in a close and intimate manner.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Promiscuity – referring particularly to the tendency to become intimate too freely, too easily, and without any depth to you intimacy.

Exclusion – which refers to the tendency to isolate oneself from love, friendship, and community, and to develop a certain hatefulness in compensation.

VirtueIf you successfully negotiate this stage, you will instead carry with you for the rest of your life the virtue Erikson calls love.

STAGE 7 Adulthood (40-60 years old)

Generativity vs.

Stagnation

The middle years of stage comprise the productive years of adulthood. In this stage, the individual’s productivity is gauged by his contributions to his family and to society. According to Erikson, the person who fails to develop this sense of generativity becomes preoccupied instead with his personal needs and interests with his personal needs and interests or both with a sense of self-absorption.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Overextension – illustrates the problem. Some people try to be so generative that they no longer allow time for themselves, for rest and relaxation.

Rejectivity – too little generativity and too much stagnation and you are no longer participating in or contributing to society.

VirtueBut if you are successfully at this stage, you will have a capacity for caring that will serve you through the rest of your life.

Ego integrity vs. Despair

STAGE 8 Old Age/Maturity (60-death)

In the last stage, a person comes to terms with the temporal limits of his life. It is the fulfillment and culmination. In Erikson’s view, it is the achievement of a sense of integrity resulting from identification with mankind. If a person, however, develops an attitude of regret and fear of the end of life, then a sense of despair emerges instead.

Maladaptation Malignancy

Presumption – this is what happens when a person “presumes” ego integrity without actually facing the difficulties of old age.

Disdain – by which Erikson means a contempt of life, one’s own or anyone’s.

Virtue

Someone who approaches death without fear has the strength Erikson calls wisdom.

SUMMARY

Stage and Age

Tasks or Crisis Relationships Issues Psychosocial Outcome

Basic Strength

Maladaptation Malignancy

Stage 1birth to 1 year(Infancy)

Can I trust the world?

Mother

Support provision of basic needs, continuity

Lack of support, deprivation, inconsistency.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Hope Sensory Maladjustment

Withdrawal

Stage 22-3 years old(Early Childhood)

Can I control my own behavior

Parents Judicious permissiveness, support.

Overprotection, lack of support.

Autonomy vs. Doubt

Will Impulsivity Compulsion

Stage 34-5 years old(Play age)

Can I become independent to my parents and explore my limits?

Family Encouragement, Opportunity.

Lack of opportunity, negative feelings.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Purpose Ruthlessness Inhibition

Stage 4(6-11)Latency(School age)

Can I master the skills necessary to survive and adapt?

school, teachers, friends, neighbourhood

Adequate training, sufficient education, good models.

Poor training, lack of direction and support.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Competence Narrow Virtuosity Inertia

Stage 5(12-18)Puberty and Adolescence

Who am I? What are my beliefs, feelings and attitudes?

Peers, Groups, Influences

Internal stability and continuity, well-defined sex models and positive feedback.

Confusion of purpose, unclear feedback, ill-defined expectations.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Fidelity Fanaticism Repudiation

Stage 6(19-40)Young adulthood

Can I give fully of myself to others?

Lovers, Friends, Work, Connections

Warmth, understanding, trust.

Loneliness, ostracism .

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Love Promiscuity Exclusivity

Stage 7(40-60)Adulthood

What can I offer succeeding generations?

Children, Community

Purposefulness, productivity

Lack of enrichment, regression.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Care Overextension Rejectivity

Stage 8(60-death)Old age/ Maturity

Have I found contentment and satisfaction through my life’s work and play?

Society and The World

Sense of closure, unity and direction.

Lack of completeness, dissatisfaction.

Ego-integrity vs. Despair

Wisdom Presumption Disdain

ReferencesChild and Adolescent Development, by Acero Ph.D, Javier Ph.D, Castro Ph.D at Chapter 5, Social and Emotional Development of Adolescents page 94.Theories of Personality, Fifth edition by Jess and Gregory Feist at Chapter 9, page 232-261Hand out on Educational Psychology retrieved from Perspective Development, Chapter 5 Page 133, Table 4.2Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development retrieved from http://www.ppt.net/deyanaflores/eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-16062653

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