Erik Erikson’s

STAGES 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.
Introduction
An 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 Infancy
Oral-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 Malignancy
Sensory Maladjustment: Withdrawal:
Overly trusting, even gullible, characterized by
this person cannot believe depression, paranoia,
anyone would mean them and possibly
harm, and will use all the psychosis.
defenses at their command to
find an explanation or excuse
for the person who did him
wrong.
Basic Strength

If the proper
balance is
achieved, the child
will develop the
virtue of Hope.
STAGE 2 Early Childhood
Muscular-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.
Maladaptation Malignancy
Impulsiveness – a sort of Compulsiveness –
shameless willfulness that feels as if their entire
leads you, in a later being rides on
childhood and even everything they do,
adulthood, to jump into and so everything
things without proper must be done
consideration of your perfectly.
abilities.
Basic Strength

If you get the proper,

positive balance of
autonomy and shame
and doubt, you will
develop the virtue of
willpower or
determination.
STAGE 3 Play Age
Locomotor-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 Inhibition - the inhibited

heartless or person will not try things
unfeeling or be because “nothing ventured,
“without mercy”. nothing lost” and,
particularly, nothing to feel
guilty about.
Basic Strength

A good balance
leads to the
psychosocial
strengths of
purpose.
STAGE 4 School Age
Latency (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 Inertia: this includes all

this in children who aren’t of us who suffer from
allowed to “be children” the the “inferiority
ones that parents or teachers complexes” Alfred
push into one area of Adler talked about.
competence, without allowing
the development of broader
interests.
Virtue
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.
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 – Repudiation – they reject

believes that his their membership in the
way is the only world of adults and, even
more, they reject their
way.
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 – Exclusion – which

referring refers to the
particularly to the tendency to isolate
tendency to oneself from love,
become intimate friendship, and
too freely, too community, and to
easily, and without develop a certain
any depth to you hatefulness in
intimacy. compensation.
Virtue
If 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 – Rejectivity – too

illustrates the little generativity
problem. Some and too much
people try to be so stagnation and you
generative that they are no longer
no longer allow time participating in or
for themselves, for contributing to
rest and relaxation. society.
Virtue
But if you are
successfully at
this stage, you
will have a
capacity for
caring that will
serve you
through the rest
of your life.
STAGE 8 Old Age/Maturity
(60-death)

Ego integrity vs.

Despair
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

Disdain – by which
Presumption – this is Erikson means a
what happens when a contempt of life,
person “presumes” ego one’s own or
integrity without actually anyone’s.
facing the difficulties of
old age.
Virtue

Someone who
approaches death
without fear has the
strength Erikson calls
wisdom.
SUMMARY
 Stage and Tasks or Crisis Relationships Issues Psychosocial Basic Maladaptation Malignancy
Age Outcome Strength

Stage 1 Can I trust the Mother  Support provision of Trust vs. Hope Sensory Withdrawal
birth to 1 world? basic needs, Mistrust Maladjustment
year continuity
(Infancy)  Lack of support,
deprivation,
inconsistency.

Stage 2 Can I control my Parents  Judicious Autonomy vs. Will Impulsivity Compulsion
2-3 years own behavior permissiveness, Doubt
old support.
(Early  Overprotection, lack
Childhood) of support.

Stage 3 Can I become Family  Encouragement, Initiative vs. Purpose Ruthlessness Inhibition
4-5 years independent to Opportunity. Guilt
old my parents and  Lack of opportunity,
(Play age) explore my negative feelings.
limits?
Stage 4 Can I master school, teachers,  Adequate training, Industry vs. Competence Narrow Virtuosity Inertia
(6-11) the skills friends, sufficient education, Inferiority
Latency necessary to neighbourhood good models.
(School age) survive and  Poor training, lack of
adapt? direction and support.

Stage 5 Who am I? Peers, Groups,  Internal stability and Identity vs. Role Fidelity Fanaticism Repudiation
(12-18) What are my Influences continuity, well-defined Confusion
Puberty and beliefs, feelings sex models and positive
Adolescence and attitudes? feedback.
 Confusion of purpose,
unclear feedback, ill-
defined expectations.

Stage 6 Can I give fully Lovers, Friends,  Warmth, understanding, Intimacy vs. Love Promiscuity Exclusivity
(19-40) of myself to Work, Connections trust. Isolation
Young others?  Loneliness, ostracism .
adulthood
Stage 7 What can I Children,  Purposefulness, Generativity vs. Care Overextension Rejectivity
(40-60) offer Community productivity Stagnation
Adulthood succeeding  Lack of enrichment,
generations? regression.

Stage 8 Have I found Society and The  Sense of closure, unity Ego-integrity vs. Wisdom Presumption Disdain
(60-death) contentment World and direction. Despair
Old age/ and satisfaction  Lack of completeness,
Maturity through my dissatisfaction.
life’s work and
play?
References
Child 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 232-261
Hand out on Educational Psychology retrieved from
Perspective Development, Chapter 5 Page 133, Table 4.2
Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development
retrieved from
http://www.ppt.net/deyanaflores/eriksons-stages-of-
psychosocial-development-16062653
THE END.