Erik Erikson’s Psycho-SocialTheory of Development

Introduction to the 8 stages:

• 1. Erikson’s “Psychological” term – Psycho = mind, brain, personality– Social =external relationships and environment

2. Influenced by Sigmund Freud.

-incorporated cultural and social aspects.

3. His ideas were developed overtime, aided by his own journey through the “psychological crisis” stages model

4. Simple and well designed

5. Powerful model, very accessible and relevant to modern life.

-useful for teaching

-parenting

-self-awareness

-managing and coaching

-dealing with conflict

-understanding self and others.

6. Various terms used to describe Erikson’s model:

- Erikson’s bio-psycho-social theory

- Erikson’s human development cycle

or life cycle

7. The epigenetic principle.

8. Each stages involves a psychosocial crisis of two opposing emotional crisis.

9. Healthy ratio or balance

10. Maladaptation and malignancies

11. The crisis stages are not sharply defined steps.

12. Erikson was keen to point out that the transition between stages is overlapping.

13. Erikson also emphasized the significance of “mutuality” and “generativity”

In his theory.

THE EIGHT PSYCHOSOCIAL

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

Stage 1 Infancy (birth to 18 months)

Psychosocial Crisis: Trust Vs. Mistrust

Relationships: Mother

Issues: feeding and being comforted, teething, sleeping

Basic Virtue: Hope and Drive

Maladaptation: Sensory maladjustment

Malignancy: withdrawal

Stage 2. Early Childhood (toddler)

18 months to 3 years

Psychosocial Crisis: Autonomy vs. Shame and

Doubt

Relationships: Parents

Issues: bodily functions, toilet training, muscular control, walking

Basic Virtue: Willpower and Self-Control

Maladaptation: Impulsivity

Malignancy: Compulsion

Stage 3. Preschool (3 to 6 years)

Psychosocial Crisis: Initiative vs. Guilt

Relationships: family

Issues: exploration and discovery, adventure and play

Basic Virtue: Purpose and Direction

Maladaptation: Ruthlessness

Malignancy: Inhibition

Stage 4. School Age (6 to 11 years)

Psychosocial Crisis: Industry vs. Inferiority

Relationships: school, teachers, friends, neighborhood

Issues: achievement and accomplishment

Basic Virtue: Competence and Method

Maladaptation: Narrow Virtuosity Malignancy: Inertia

Stage 5.Adolescence (12 to 18 years)

Psychosocial Crisis:

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Relationships: peers, groups, influences

Issues: resolving identity and

direction, becoming a grown-up

Basic Virtue: Fidelity and Devotion

Maladaptation: Fanaticism

Malignancy: Repudiation

Stage 6. Young Adulthood (19 to 40 years)

Psychosocial Crisis:

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Relationships: lovers, friends, work

connections

Issues: intimate relationships,

work and social life

Basic Virtue: Love and Affiliation

Maladaptation: Promiscuity

Malignancy: Exclusivity

Stage 7. Middle Adulthood (41 to 65years)

Psychosocial Crisis:

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Relationships: children, community

Issues: 'giving back', helping,

contributing

Basic Virtue: Care and Production

Maladaptation: Overextension

Malignancy: Rejectivity

Stage 8. Maturity (66 to death)

Psychosocial Crisis: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Relationships: society, the world

Issues: meaning and purpose, life achievements

Basic Virtue: Wisdom and Renunciation

Maladaptation: Presumption

Malignancy: Disdain