by Danielle Stefanic

 This lesson discusses the 8 stages of

development psychologist Erik Erickson
studied and developed.
 Erickson was born in Frankfurt, Germany on June 15,
1902.
 Erickson’s father abandoned his mother before he
was born.
 Erickson’s mother then married Dr. Theodor
Homberger, who was Erickson’s doctor.
 When Erickson graduated high school, he wandered
the streets of London, hoping to become an artist.
 When he was 25, one of his friends suggested he
apply for a teaching position at an American school
that was run by Dorothy Burlingham.
 It was here that Erickson began learning about
pshychology.
 While he worked at this schoo, Erickson was
psychoanalyzed by Anna Freud.
 He then met his wife here and had three
children with her.
 Because of the Nazi’s coming into power,
Erickson and his family were forced to leave
Vienna and they went to Copenhagen.
 After that move, they left for Boston and
Erickson was offered a job at Harvard Medical
School.
 Erickson began practicing child
psychoanalysis.
 Erickson then moved onto teaching at Yale.
 After his time at Yale he began teaching at
University of California Berkeley.
 It was while he was at Berkeley that he did his
studies that are now famous.
 Erickson died in 1994.
 Infant (birth – 18 mos)
• At this stage, an infant develops their sense
of trust. With proper care and attention, the
child will be able to trust. However, if this
does not happen, it leads to mistrust in the
child’s life.
• Important events: Feeding
• Basic conflict: Trust vs. Mistrust
 Early Childhood (2 – 3 years)
• Child needs to develop a certain level of
independence through exploration.
• Important Events: Toilet training
• Basic Conflict: Autonomy vs. Shame and
Doubt
 Preschool (3 – 5 years)
• A sense of control and power is important in
a child’s life at this stage. They feel a sense
of purpose if they succeed in this.
• Important Events: Exploration
• Basic Conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt
 School Age (6 – 11 years)
• Children are forced to cope with school and
other social demands.
• Important Events: School
• Basic Conflict: Industry vs. Inferiority
 Adolescence (12 – 18 years)
• Teens develop a sense of self. If they
accomplish this, they can stay true to
themselves and what they believe.
• Important Events: Social Relationships
• Basic Conflict: Identity vs. Role Confusion
 Young Adulthood (19 – 40 years)
• Intimate, loving relationships need to form in
this stage. If this fails to happen, people feel
alone and isolated.
• Important Events: Relationships
• Basic Conflict: Intimacy vs. Isolation
 Middle Adulthood (40 – 65 years)
• Adults need to create things that they can
nurture that will outlast them; generally,
children. If they do not accomplish this, they
will feel as though they did nothing good for
the world.
• Important Events: Work and Parenthood
• Basic Conflict: Generativity vs. Stagnation
 Maturity (65 – death)
• Adults look back onto their life and need to
be able to feel fulfilled. If they do not feel
this, they will feel bitter and defeated.
• Important Events: Reflection on Life
• Basic Conflict: Ego Integrity vs. Despair
 http://psychology.about.com/library/bl_psyc
hosocial_summary.htm
 http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.ht
ml Dr. George C. Boeree, 2006