ERIK ERIKSON

(1902 1994)
Psycho-social Theory

Psycho-social Theory
An individual has to pass through
eight periods of developmental crisis in
life
If an individual does indeed successfully reconcile these forces, he or she
emerges from the stage with the corresponding virtue. For example, if an infant
enters into the toddler stage (autonomy vs. shame and doubt) with more trust
than mistrust, he or she carries the virtue of hope into the remaining life stages.

Eight stages

Eriksons theory and education

A number of actions are promoted by practitioners to
support healthy development in children.
These are based on the first three stages of
Eriksons theory:

Stage of trust v mistrust

Hold babies close and share warm physical
contact with them when they are being fed
Respond quickly when babies are distressed

Stage of autonomy v shame and

doubt
Give children simple but genuine choices
Set clear, consistent and reasonable boundaries
Accept childrens needs between independence
and dependence

Stage of initiative v guilt

Encourage children to be independent
Focus on what children can do, not the
mistakes they make
Set realistic expectations

Make the curriculum relevant and based on

action

Strengths of theory
Erikson created a more influential and
educationally relevant theory of
psychodynamics by integrating social and
cultural factors

Weaknesses of theory
Other psychologists have criticised Eriksons
ideas because human development does not fit
neatly into 8 stages.