PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDREN

Core Competency 3:
Fostering Social, Intellectual, Creative & Emotional Development of Children
Learning Outcome 1: Foster Children’s Independence and Autonomy
Information Sheet 3.1.1
 Theories of
Development
Abraham
Maslow's
Hierarchy of
Needs
 PHYSIOLOGIC NEEDS
Abraham
Oxygen, food, water, temperature,
Maslow's elimination, sexuality, physical
Hierarchy of activity, and rest
Needs
 SAFETY & SECURITY NEEDS
• Physical Safety

Abraham • Means protecting a person from

potential or actual harm
Maslow's
• Emotional Safety and Security
Hierarchy of
• Involves trusting others and being free
Needs of fear, anxiety, apprehension
 LOVE & BELONGING NEEDS
• Include the understanding and
acceptance of others in both giving and
Abraham receiving love and the feeling of
Maslow's belonging to others:  friends, peers,
Hierarchy of families, neighborhoods, and
Needs communities.
 SELF-ESTEEM NEEDS
The need to feel good about oneself, to
Abraham feel pride and a sense of accomplishment
Maslow's in what ones does, and to believe that
others also hold one in high regard. 
Hierarchy of Self-esteem gives the individual
Needs confidence and independence.
 SELF-ACTUALIZATION
Abraham NEEDS
The need to reach one’s potential through
Maslow's full development of one’s unique
Hierarchy of capabilities.
Needs
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 TRUST VERSUS MISTRUST
BIRTH – 1 YEAR OLD

Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 TRUST VERSUS MISTRUST
BIRTH – 1 YEAR OLD

Children begin to learn the ability to trust others

Erikson's based upon the consistency of their caregiver(s). If
Stages of trust develops successfully, the child gains
confidence and security in the world around him and
Psychosocial De is able to feel secure even when threatened.
Unsuccessful completion of this stage can result in
velopment an inability to trust, and therefore a sense of fear
about the inconsistent world. It may result in
anxiety, heightened insecurities, and an over feeling
of mistrust in the world around them.
 AUTONOMY VERSUS
SHAME & DOUBT
1 – 3 YEARS OLD
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial 
Development
 AUTONOMY VERSUS
SHAME & DOUBT
1 – 3 YEARS OLD
Erikson's Children begin to assert their independence, by walking
away from their mother, picking which toy to play with,
Stages of and making choices about what they like to wear, to eat,
etc. If children in this stage are encouraged and supported
Psychosocial De in their increased independence, they become more
confident and secure in their own ability to survive in the
velopment 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 may then
become overly dependent upon others, lack self-esteem,
and feel a sense of shame or doubt in their own abilities.
 INITIATIVE VERSUS GUILT
3 – 6 YEARS OLD

Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 INITIATIVE VERSUS GUILT
3 – 6 YEARS OLD
Children assert themselves more frequently. They
Erikson's begin to plan activities, make up games, and initiate

Stages of activities with others. If given this opportunity,

children develop a sense of initiative, and feel secure
Psychosocial De in their ability to lead others and make decisions.
Conversely, if this tendency is squelched, either
velopment through criticism or control, children develop a sense
of guilt. They may feel like a nuisance to others and
will therefore remain followers, lacking in self-
initiative.
 INDUSTRY VERSUS
INFERIORITY
6 YEARS OLD – PUBERTY
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 INDUSTRY VERSUS
INFERIORITY
6 YEARS OLD – PUBERTY
Erikson's Children begin to develop a sense of pride in their
accomplishments. They initiate projects, see them
Stages of through to completion, and feel good about what they
Psychosocial De have achieved. During this time, teachers play an
increased role in the child’s development. If children are
velopment 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 potential.
 IDENTITY VERSUS
ROLE CONFUSION
ADOLESCENCE
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 IDENTITY VERSUS
ROLE CONFUSION
ADOLESCENCE
Erikson's The transition from childhood to adulthood is most
Stages of important. Children are becoming more independent,
and begin to look at the future in terms of career,
Psychosocial De relationships, families, housing, etc. During this
period, they explore possibilities and begin to form
velopment their own identity based upon the outcome of their
explorations. This sense of who they are can be
hindered, which results in a sense of confusion ("I
don’t know what I want to be when I grow up") about
themselves and their role in the world.
 INTIMACY VERSUS
ISOLATION
YOUNG ADULTHOOD
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 INTIMACY VERSUS
ISOLATION
YOUNG ADULTHOOD
Erikson's We begin to share ourselves more intimately with
others. We explore relationships leading toward
Stages of longer term commitments with someone other than a
Psychosocial De family member. Successful completion can lead to
comfortable relationships and a sense of
velopment commitment, safety, and care within a relationship.
Avoiding intimacy, fearing commitment and
relationships can lead to isolation, loneliness, and
sometimes depression.
 GENERATIVITY VERSUS
STAGNATION
MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 GENERATIVITY VERSUS
STAGNATION
MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Erikson's We establish our careers, settle down within a
Stages of relationship, begin our own families and develop a
sense of being a part of the bigger picture. We give
Psychosocial De back to society through raising our children, being
productive at work, and becoming involved in
velopment community activities and organizations. By failing to
achieve these objectives, we become stagnant and
feel unproductive.
 EGO INTEGRITY VERSUS
DESPAIR
ELDERLY/SENIOR CITIZENS
Erikson's
Stages of
Psychosocial De
velopment
 EGO INTEGRITY VERSUS
DESPAIR
ELDERLY/SENIOR CITIZENS
Erikson's As we grow older and become senior citizens, we tend
Stages of to slow down our productivity, and explore life as a
retired person. It is during this time that we
Psychosocial De contemplate our accomplishments and are able to
develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a
velopment successful life. If we see our lives as unproductive, feel
guilt about our pasts, or feel that we did not accomplish
our life goals, we become dissatisfied with life and
develop despair, often leading to depression and
hopelessness.
Freud's Stages
of Psychosexual
Development
 ORAL STAGE
BIRTH – 18 MONTHS
During the oral stage, the child if focused on oral
pleasures (sucking). Too much or too little
gratification can result in an Oral Fixation or Oral
Freud's Stages Personality which is evidenced by a preoccupation
with oral activities. This type of personality may
of Psychosexual have a stronger tendency to smoke, drink alcohol,
over eat, or bite his or her nails. Personality wise,
Development these individuals may become overly dependent
upon others, gullible, and perpetual followers. On
the other hand, they may also fight these urges and
develop pessimism and aggression toward others.
 ANAL STAGE
18 MONTHS – 3 YEARS OLD
The child’s focus of pleasure in this stage is on
eliminating and retaining feces. Through society’s
pressure, mainly via parents, the child has to learn to
Freud's Stages control anal stimulation. In terms of personality, after
effects of an anal fixation during this stage can result
of Psychosexual in an obsession with cleanliness, perfection, and

Development control (anal retentive). On the opposite end of the

spectrum, they may become messy and disorganized
(anal expulsive).
 PHALLIC STAGE
3 – 6 YEARS OLD
The pleasure zone switches to the genitals. Freud
believed that during this stage boy develop
unconscious sexual desires for their mother. Because
Freud's Stages of this, he becomes rivals with his father and sees him
as competition for the mother’s affection. During this
of Psychosexual time, boys also develop a fear that their father will
punish them for these feelings, such as by castrating
Development them. This group of feelings is known as Oedipus
Complex (after the Greek Mythology figure that
accidentally killed his father and married his mother).
 LATENCY STAGE
6 YEARS OLD – PUBERTY
It’s during this stage that sexual urges remain
repressed and children interact and play mostly

Freud's Stages with same sex peers.

of Psychosexual
Development
 GENITAL STAGE
PUBERTY ONWARDS
The final stage of psychosexual development begins
at the start of puberty when sexual urges are once
again awakened. Through the lessons learned during
Freud's Stages the previous stages, adolescents direct their sexual
urges onto opposite sex peers, with the primary
of Psychosexual focus of pleasure is the genitals.

Development
Ego
Defense
Mechanisms
 DENIAL
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego Denying that your
Defense Arguing against an physician's
anxiety provoking diagnosis of cancer
Mechanisms stimulus by stating is correct and
it doesn't exist seeking a second
opinion
 DISPLACEMEN
N
T
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
Ego Slamming a door
Defense Taking out impulses
instead of hitting as
person, yelling at
Mechanisms on a less
threatening target
your spouse after
an argument with
your boss
 INTELLECTUALIZATI
ON
DESCRIPTIO
N
EXAMPLE
Ego Avoiding
Focusing on the
Defense unacceptable
details of a funeral
emotions by
Mechanisms focusing on the
as opposed to the
sadness and grief
intellectual aspects
 PROJECTION
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego
When losing an
Defense Placing unacceptable
argument, you state
impulses in yourself
Mechanisms onto someone else
"You're just Stupid;"
homophobia
 RATIONALIZATIO
N N
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
Ego Stating that you were
Defense Supplying a logical or fired because you
rational reason as didn't kiss up the
Mechanisms opposed to the real boss, when the real
reason reason was your
poor performance
 REACTION FORMATION
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego Having a bias against
Defense Taking the opposite
belief because the
a particular race or
culture and then
Mechanisms true belief causes embracing that race
anxiety or culture to the
extreme
 REGRESSION
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego
Sitting in a corner and
Defense Returning to a crying after hearing bad
Mechanisms previous stage of
development
news; throwing a
temper tantrum when
you don't get your way
 REPRESSION
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego
Defense Forgetting sexual
abuse from your
Pulling into the
Mechanisms unconscious
childhood due to
the trauma and
anxiety
 SUBLIMATION
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego Sublimating your
aggressive impulses
Defense Acting out toward a career as a
unacceptable boxer; becoming a
Mechanisms impulses in a surgeon because of
socially acceptable your desire to cut;
way lifting weights to
release 'pent up'
energy
 SUPRESSION
DESCRIPTIO EXAMPLE
N
Ego
Trying to forget
Defense Pushing into the
unconscious
something that
Mechanisms causes you anxiety
END