Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Subject: Behavioral Science

Overview

The importance of external factors on personality development from childhood to adulthood is emphasized by Erikson's psychosocial development theory. Every person must go through a series of 8 stages, according to Erikson.

Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

The importance of external factors on personality development from childhood to adulthood is emphasized by Erikson's psychosocial development theory. Every person must go through a series of 8 stages, according to Erikson.

Stage

Psycho- social crisis

Description of task

1. Infancy

Trust v/s Mistrust

If needs (basic needs) are dependently met, the infant develops a sense of basic trust, security and a basic optimism. If the baby is badly handled and neglected, he will become insecure and mistrustful.

2. Toddler (1-2 years)

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Toddler learns to do things for himself or he doubts his abilities. This is the time of toilet training. Of the training is successful the child is proud of his body. Otherwise, he may feel dirty and ashamed. Shame is essentially rage turned against the self. He wants of bury his face and hides. Doubts lead to compulsiveness and later on develop paranoid fears.

3. Preschooler (3-5 years)

Initiative vs Guilt

Preschooler terms to initiate a task and carry out plans or he feels guilt about efforts to be independent. The child learns new skills through active play. If the child is successful, he develops initiative but if there is parental control which prevents him going out and playing other, remains fearful.

4. Elementary/school age (6 years to puberty)

Industry vs Inferiority

Child learns the pleasure of applying himself to a task or he feels inferior. The child learns the academic subjects. He learns to master the entire task like reading, writing, math, social studies, game and nature studies. But the child with mistrust may doubt his future: shame and guilt may drive him to defeat and to feeling of inferiority.

5. Adolescence (teenage to 20 years)

Identity vs Role Confusion

Teenager works at defining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity. He tries out new roles. He looks for leadership. He finally decides in his career as an adult and prepares himself for professional education. In another hand, if there is doubt about oneself, there is role diffusion, inability to settle an occupational identity or he becomes confused about who he is.

6. Young adulthood (20-40 years)

Intimacy vs Isolation

Young adult struggles to form a close relationship and to gain the capacity for intimate love and good friendship. On the other hand, the person who falls in this seeks isolation or feels socially isolated.

7. Middle adulthood (40-60 years)

Generativity vs Stagnation

The middle-aged discovers a sense of contributing to the world through family and work. Generativity is primarily the interest in establishing and guiding the next generation. Where this enrichment falls the middle-aged may feel a lack of purpose and becomes inactive.

8. Late adulthood (over 60 years)

Integrity vs Despair

When reflecting on his/her life, the older adult may feel a sense of satisfaction or failure. When all the preceding psychological stage have been resolved the mature adult reaches to integrity, the peak of adjustment. The man who has not been able to resolve the earlier psychological crises may view himself and his life with disgust and despair.

Things to remember
  • The importance of external factors on personality development from childhood to adulthood is emphasized by Erikson's psychosocial development theory.
  • Every person must go through a series of 8 stages, according to Erikson.
Questions and Answers

Erikson's psychosocial development emphasise the impact of external factors on the personality development from childhood to adulthood. According to Erikson's every person must pass through series of 8 stage.

Stage

Psycho- social crisis

Description of task

1. Infancy

Trust v/s mistrust

If needs (basic needs) are dependently met, the infant develops a sense of basic trust, security and a basic optimism. If the baby is badly handled and neglected, he will become insecure and mistrustful.

2. Toddler (1-2 years)

Autonomy vs shame and doubt

Toddler learns to do things for himself or he doubts his abilities. This is the time of toilet training. Of the training is successful the child is proud of his body. Otherwise, he may feel dirty and ashamed. Shame is essentially rage turned against the self. He wants of bury his face and hides. Doubts lead to compulsiveness and later on develop paranoid fears.

3. Preschooler (3-5 years)

Initiative vs guilt

Preschooler terms to initiate a task and carry out plans or he feels guilt about efforts to be independent. The child learns new skills through active play. If the child is successful, he develops initiative but if there is parental control which prevents him going out and playing other, remains fearful.

4. Elementary/school age (6 years to puberty)

Industry vs inferiority

Child learns the pleasure of applying himself to a task or he feels inferior. The child learns the academic subjects. He learns to master the entire task like reading, writing, math, social studies, game and nature studies. But the child with mistrust may doubt his future: shame and guilt may drive him to defeat and to feeling of inferiority.

5. Adolescence (teenage to 20 years)

Identity vs role confusion

Teenager works at defining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity. He tries out new roles. He looks for leadership. He finally decides in his career as an adult and prepares himself for professional education. In another hand, if there is doubt about oneself, there is role diffusion, inability to settle an occupational identity or he becomes confused about who he is.

6. Young adulthood (20-40 years)

Intimacy vs isolation

Young adult struggles to form a close relationship and to gain the capacity for intimate love and good friendship. On the other hand, the person who falls in this seeks isolation or feels socially isolated.

7. Middle adulthood (40-60 years)

Generativity vs stagnation

The middle-aged discovers a sense of contributing to the world through family and work. Generativity is primarily the interest in establishing and guiding the next generation. Where this enrichment falls the middle-aged may feel a lack of purpose and becomes inactive.

8. Late adulthood (over 60 years)

Integrity vs despair

When reflecting on his/her life, the older adult may feel a sense of satisfaction or failure. When all the preceding psychological stage have been resolved the mature adult reaches to integrity, the peak of adjustment. The man who has not been able to resolve the earlier psychological crises may view himself and his life with disgust and despair.

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