Psycho-Social Stages of Development
Lindsay Whiteman
Erik Erikson
Born: Frankfurt, Germany (1902-1994)
Contribution: Theory that each stage of life is connected to a psychological struggle that contributes to a major aspect of personality (i.e. psychological needs of individual conflict with needs of society)
8 Stages of Psycho-Social Development:
These stages progress throughout the lifespan and deal with a crisis that must be resolved in order for each psychological quality to develop.
1) Trust vs. Mistrust
- Infant uncertain about the world, looks to primary caregiver for stability
- C.P.R. - Consistent//Predictable//Reliable
- Success: Develop trust + security even when threatened (hope)
- Failure: anxiety, heightened insecurities, general mistrust of world
Erik Erikson - Stage 2 Developmental Psychology
2) Autonomy vs. Shame
- Children begin to discover and explore their own abilities + talents (i.e. putting on clothes, choosing a toy etc.)
- Parents must find balance between allowing for exploration + avoiding consistent failure (i.e. potty training)
- Success: encouraged + supported in their increased independence - more confident and sure of their ability to survive in the world (will)
- Failure: criticized, overly controlled, or not allowed assertion of self - feel inadequate of their abilities and become more dependent upon others
3) Initiative vs. Guilt
- Period where children regularly interact with others at school and explore their interpersonal abilities (i.e. plan activities, make up games, initiate activities with others)
- Success: If given opportunity to exercise these abilities, children will be able to develop a sense of initiative + feel secure in ability to make decisions and lead others (purpose)
- Failure: If shut down by either criticism or control, child will develop sense of guilt like their are "being a nuisance"
4) Industry vs. Inferiority
- Learning to read + write + do math + do things on their own (role of teacher huge and influence of peers grows)
- Feels the need to win approval by accomplishing what is valued by society
- Success: If encouraged and reinforced in ability to take initiative, feel industrious and confident in ability to achieve goals (competence)
- Failure: If inhibited, begin to feel inferior doubting their abilities and hindering their potential
5) Identity vs. Role Confusion
- Transition from childhood to adulthood, becoming more independent, looking to the future, wanting to fit into society
- Re-examine identity and begin to figure out role as adult, 2 identities involved: sexual + occupational
- Success: Able to adapt to their changing bodies, leads to fidelity (able to accept others even when ideologies differ), begin to form their own identity
- Failure: Cannot establish sense of identity within society, leads to role confusion (identity crisis), may begin to experiment with different lifestyles
6) Intimacy vs. Isolation
- In young adulthood, begin to explore more intimate relationships of commitment with someone outside the family
- Success: Lead to comfortable relationships + sense of commitment, safety, care (love)
- Failure: Lead to avoiding intimacy + fearing commitment, relationships can bring loneliness, isolation, depression
7) Generativity vs. Stagnation
- Middle adulthood, establish career, settle down, start a family, sense of being a part of the bigger picture
- Success: Give back to society by raising children, being productive at work, involved in community (care)
- Failure: Become stagnant and unproductive in life
8) Ego Integrity vs. Despair
- Later years of adulthood becoming senior citizens, often retired, slow down productivity, contemplate accomplishments
- Success: Look back on life and develop integrity from accomplishments (wisdom) sense of closure + completeness looking at death without fear
- Failure: If view life as unproductive then feel guilt or unaccomplished, become dissatisfied with life and develop despair, depression, hopelessness