ERIK ERIKSON’S

PSYCHOSOCIAL
THEORY
Last week, you read about the various
developments that occur during the
adolescent stage:

1. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
2. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
3. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This week, we shall focus on the FOURTH

development that occurs at this stage,
which is:

4. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

And our focus shall be the most popular

theory in the human social development,
which is ERIK ERIKSON’S PSYCHOSOCIAL
THEORY.
As a child, your personal development has been
defined largely by your experiences in your family, in
the school and to some extent, in activities with your
friends.

Being an adolescent means you gain new skills in

logical thinking, moral development, and sexual
identity with the possibilities for a more independent
social life.

According to Erik Erikson, the most important task that

confronts the adolescent is the establishment of an
identity, the most important question then is WHO ARE
YOU? However, identity formation neither begins nor
ends with adolescence. Identity formation is a lifelong
process. But it is during adolescence that the major
features of this identity are sketched out. It is a time of
experimentation on lifestyle and roles. It is a search for
what to believe in, what to live for, and what to be loyal
to.
 Here’s a quick reference to Erikson’s theory:

STAGE and CONFLICT VIRTUE AGE (years)

STAGE 1: HOPE and

0 – 1.5
TRUST vs MISTRUST PATIENCE

STAGE 2: DETERMINATION
1.5 – 3
AUTONOMY vs SHAME and BRAVERY

STAGE 3:
PURPOSE 3–5
INITIATIVE vs DOUBT

STAGE 4:
COMPETENCY 5 – 12
INDUSTRY vs INFERIORITY

STAGE 5: FIDELITY and

12 – 18
IDENTITY vs CONFUSION HONESTY

STAGE 6:
LOVE 18 – 40
INTIMACY vs ISOLATION

STAGE 7
CARE 40 – 65
GENERATIVITY vs STAGNATION

STAGE 8
WISDOM 65 and up
INTEGRITY vs DESPAIR
STAGE 1
TRUST VS MISTRUST

During this stage, the infant is uncertain about the world in

which they live. To resolve these feelings of uncertainty, the
infant looks towards their primary caregiver for stability and
consistency of care.

If the care the infant receives is consistent, predictable and

reliable, they will develop a sense of trust which will carry with
them to other relationships, and they will be able to feel secure
even when threatened.

Success in this stage will lead to the virtue of hope. By

developing a sense of trust, the infant can have hope that as
new crises arise, there is a real possibility that other people will
be there as a source of support. Failing to acquire the virtue of
hope will lead to the development of fear.

This infant will carry the basic sense of mistrust with them to
other relationships. It may result in anxiety, heightened
insecurities, and an over feeling of mistrust in the world
around them.

A child who doesn’t go through this stage successfully will

have TRUST ISSUES when they become adolescents and/or
adults.

• They might be too clingy in their relationships.

• They might develop strong insecurities.
• They might become stingy and greedy.

When this stage is successful the child learns to develop the

virtues of HOPE and PATIENCE. They grow up to become
optimistic, and patient in the face of problems.
STAGE 2
AUTONOMY VS SHAME

The child is developing physically and becoming more mobile.

Between the ages of 18 months and three, children begin to assert
their independence, by walking away from their mother, picking
which toy to play with, and making choices about what they like
to wear, to eat, etc.

If children in this stage are encouraged and supported in their

increased independence, they become more confident and secure
in their own ability to survive in the world.

If children are criticized, overly controlled, or not given the

opportunity to assert themselves, they begin to feel inadequate in
their ability to survive, and they grow up to become:

• Overly dependent upon others

• Lacking in self-esteem
• Shameful or doubtful in their abilities.

When this stage is successful, the child learns to develop

DETERMINATION and BRAVERY, this will manifest in school, and
they will carry this with them until they become older.
STAGE 3
INITIATIVE VS DOUBT

Around age three and continuing to age five, children assert

themselves more frequently. These are particularly lively, rapid-
developing years in a child’s life.

During this period the primary feature involves the child regularly
interacting with other children at school. Central to this stage is
play, as it provides children with the opportunity to explore their
interpersonal skills through initiating activities.

Conversely, if this tendency is minimized, either through criticism or

control, children develop a sense of guilt. They may feel like a
bother or an annoyance to others. They become too shy in
interaction, as such they will become just followers. They feel too
scared of asserting themselves. Too much guilt can make the child
slow to interact with others and may inhibit their creativity. Some
guilt is necessary though, otherwise the child would not know how
to exercise self control or have a conscience.

Balance between initiative and guilt is VERY important. Success in

this stage will lead them to become explorers but with enough self-
control to not go too far. When they explore but exercise control,
they develop a sense of purpose.
STAGE 4
INDUSTRY VS INFERIORITY

Industry versus inferiority is the fourth stage of Erik Erikson's

theory of psychosocial development. The stage occurs during
childhood between the ages of five and twelve. Children are at
the stage where they will be learning to read and write, to do
sums, to do things on their own. Teachers begin to take an
important role in the child’s life as they teach the child specific
skills.

It is at this stage that the child’s peer group will gain greater
significance and will become a major source of the child’s self-
esteem. The child now feels the need to win approval by
demonstrating specific competencies that are valued by society
and begin to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

If children are encouraged and reinforced for their initiative, they

begin to feel industrious and feel confident in their ability to
achieve goals. If this initiative is not encouraged, if it is restricted
by parents or teacher, then the child begins to feel inferior,
doubting his own abilities and therefore may not reach his or her
potential. Success in this stage will lead to the virtue of
competence.
STAGE 5
IDENTITY VS CONFUSION

The fifth stage occurs during the entire period of adolescence, which is 12-18 years.
During this stage, adolescents search for a sense of self and personal identity,
through an intense exploration of personal values, beliefs and goals. There are plenty
of questions, plenty of doubts, and plenty of realizations at this stage.

During adolescence the transition from childhood to adulthood is most important

and critical. Children are becoming more independent, and begin to look at the
future in terms of career, relationships, families, housing, etc. The individual wants to
belong to a society and fit in.

This is a major stage of development where the child has to learn the roles he will
occupy as an adult. It is during this stage that the adolescent will re-examine his
identity and try to find out exactly who he or she is. Erikson believes that the two
main identities are sexual and occupational. Gender and career.

What should happen at the end of this stage is “a reintegrated sense of self, of what
one wants to do or be, and of one’s appropriate sex role”. During this stage the body
image of the adolescent changes. Again, note that this stage lasts until 18 years of
age.

Erikson claims that the adolescent may feel uncomfortable about their body for a
while until they can adapt and “grow into” the changes. Success in this stage will
lead to the virtue of fidelity. Fidelity involves being able to commit one's self to
others on the basis of accepting others, even when there may be ideological
differences.

During this period, they explore possibilities and begin to form their own identity
based upon the outcome of their explorations. Failure to establish a sense of identity
within society ("I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up") can lead to role
confusion. Role confusion involves the individual not being sure about themselves or
their place in society. In response to role confusion or identity crisis an adolescent
may begin to experiment with different lifestyles (e.g. work, education or political
activities). Also pressuring someone into an identity can result in rebellion in the
form of establishing a negative identity, and in addition to this feeling of
unhappiness.
 IMPORTANT

Since the adolescent stage is a time for self-discovery and

transformation, adolescents are particularly susceptible to
suggestion and INFLUENCE.

This is why social media is such a controversial topic at

this day and age. In the past, parents and a small circle of
friends use to be the MAIN influence of teens as they
grow up, it’s moderated, it’s healthy, it’s PERSONAL.

These days though, that influence is slowly being supplied

and often REPLACED IN ABUNDANCE by social media
personalities and the SUPERFICIAL attention given to
them by the society.

The fear is that slowly but surely, teens are developing

into individuals that parents barely recognize, until we see
who they’re following ONLINE.

Moderation is the KEY. There are proper influences, and

there are those who just do it for entertainment and
financial purposes. It is important for teens to recognize
which is which.
 STAGE 6 to STAGE 8

The next stages are for YOUR future. It may not

yet be the focus of your growth now, but it is
something that you might want to look into in
PREPARATION.
Stage 6: Intimacy vs Isolation
Occurring in young adulthood (ages 18 to 40), we begin to share
ourselves more intimately with others. We explore relationships leading
toward longer-term commitments with someone other than a family
member.

Successful completion of this stage can result in happy relationships and

a sense of commitment, safety, and care within a relationship. Avoiding
intimacy, fearing commitment and relationships can lead to isolation,
loneliness, and sometimes depression. Success in this stage will lead to
the virtue of love.

Stage 7: Generativity vs Stagnation

During middle adulthood (ages 40 to 65), we establish our careers, settle
down within a relationship, begin our own families and develop a sense
of being a part of the bigger picture.

We give back to society through raising our children, being productive at

work, and becoming involved in community activities and organizations.
By failing to achieve these objectives, we become stagnant and feel
unproductive. Success in this stage will lead to the virtue of care.

Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs Despair

As we grow older (65 and up) and become senior citizens, we tend to
slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person. It is
during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and can
develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life.

Erik Erikson believed if we see our lives as unproductive, feel guilt about
our past, or feel that we did not accomplish our life goals, we become
dissatisfied with life and develop despair, often leading to depression
and hopelessness.

Success in this stage will lead to the virtue of wisdom. Wisdom enables a
person to look back on their life with a sense of closure and
completeness, and also accept death without fear.