• Erik Erikson’s

Psychosocial Theory of
Development
 Erik Erikson (1902-1994)
PSYCHO + SOCIAL

psychological conflicting with the

needs of the needs of society
individual
 Erik Erikson (1902-1994)
• proposed that we all encounter certain
crises that contribute to our
psychosocial growth throughout our
lifespan

• eight stages of psychosocial conflicts

 Trust vs. Mistrust
• Birth to 18 months

• During this stage, the infant is

uncertain about the world in which
they live, and looks towards their
primary caregiver for stability and
consistency of care.
 Trust Mistrust

• they will develop a

• the infant will not have
sense of trust which
confidence in the world
will carry with them to
around them or in their
other relationships,
abilities to influence
and they will be able to
events.
feel secure even when
threatened
Success in this stage will lead to
the virtue of hope.

Failing to acquire the virtue of

hope will lead to the development
of fear.
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
• 18 months to approximately 3
years

• Children at this stage are focused

on developing a sense of personal
control over physical skills and a
sense of independence.
 Autonomy Shame and Doubt

• If children in this stage • If children are criticized,

are encouraged and
supported in their
increased
independence, they
become more
confident and secure
in their own ability to
survive in the world.
overly controlled, or not
given the opportunity to
assert themselves, they
begin to feel inadequate in
their ability to survive, and
may then become overly
dependent upon others, 
Success in this stage will lead
to the virtue of will.
Initiative vs. Guilt
• According to Bee (1992), it
is a “time of vigor of action
and of behaviors that the
parents may see as
aggressive.“
 Initiative vs. Guilt

• During the preschool years,

children begin to assert their power
and control over the world through
directing play and other social
interaction
 Initiative Guilt

• Children develop a • Those who fail to

sense of initiative acquire these
and feel secure in skills are left with
their ability to lead
a sense of guilt,
others and make
decisions. self-doubt and
lack of initiative.
Success in this stage will lead to the virtue of
purpose, while failure results in a sense of
guilt.
Industry vs. Inferiority
• occurs during childhood
between the ages of five and
twelve
• Through social interactions,
children begin to develop a
sense of pride in their
accomplishments and abilities.
 Industry Inferiority

• Children who are • Those who receive

encouraged and little or no
commended by encouragement
parents and from parents,
teachers develop a teachers, or peers
feeling of will doubt their
competence and ability to be
belief in their skills. successful.
Success in this stage will lead
to the virtue of competence.
 Note : A balance between
competence and modesty is
necessary
Identity vs. Role Confusion
• from about 12-18 years.

• It is during this stage

that the adolescent will
re-examine his identity
and try to find out
exactly who he or she is.
 Identity Role Confusion
• Those who receive
• Role confusion
proper
involves the
encouragement and
individual not being
reinforcement will
sure about
emerge from this
themselves or their
stage with a strong
sense of self and a place in society
feeling of ("I don’t know what I
independence and want to be when I
control. grow up")
 Success in this stage will
lead to the virtue of fidelity.

involves being able to commit one's

self to others on the basis of accepting
others, even when there may be
differences
Intimacy vs. Isolation
• ages of approximately 18
to 40 yrs.

• During this period, the

major conflict centers on
forming intimate, loving
relationships with other
people.
 Intimacy Isolation
• Successful • Avoiding intimacy,
completion of this fearing commitment
stage can result in and relationships
happy relationships can lead to isolation,
and a sense of loneliness, and
commitment, safety, sometimes
and care within a depression.
relationship.
Success in this stage will lead
to the virtue of love.
 Generativity vs. Stagnation

• ages 40 to 65 yrs)

• Generativity refers to "making your

mark" on the world through creating or
nurturing things that will outlast an
individual.
 Generativity Stagnation
• Those who are • Those who fail to
successful during this attain this skill will
phase will feel that feel unproductive
they are contributing and uninvolved in
to the world by being the world.
active in their home
and community
Success in this stage will lead to the
virtue of care.
 Integrity vs. Despair

• begins at approximately
age 65 and ends at death.

• This phase occurs during

old age and is focused on
reflecting back on life
 Integrity Despair
• Those who are
• Those who feel proud
unsuccessful during
of their this phase will feel
accomplishments will that their life has
feel a sense of been wasted and
integrity. will experience
many regrets
 Success in this stage will
lead to the virtue of wisdom.

enables a person to look back on their

life with a sense of closure and
completeness, and also accept death
without fear.