ERIK ERIKSON’S

Stages of Development

Ch. 8, 9 & 10
 I. Stage 1- Infancy
A. Birth to 1 ½ years
B. Fastest growth period in life
C. Developmental Tasks
1. learn to eat solid food
2. begin to walk
3. begin to talk
4. developing trust
D. Trust vs. Mistrust
 II. Stage 2 - Early Childhood
A. Ages 2-3
B. Developmental tasks
1. walk and talk more
2. potty trained
3. social independence
develops
4. Sense of autonomy-
need to control
impulses, body,
environment.
C. Autonomy vs.
Shame/Doubt
 III. Stage 3 - Childhood
A. 4-5 years
B. Developmental tasks
1. initiate play with other
kids
2. make-believe
3. ask questions
4. Learn initiative- the
ability to start something
on their own.
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
 IV. Stage 4 – Late Childhood
A. 6 to 11 years
B. Developmental Tasks
1. learn physical skills for
sports, games, etc.
2. intellectually- learn to read,
write, do math
3. learn right from wrong
4. develop attitudes towards
themselves and others.
5. develop sense of industry-
make things- cookies,
models, etc.
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
V. Stage 5 – Puberty/Adolescence
A. Ages 9 – 13 & 14-17
B. Beginning of adolescence
C. Become capable of reproducing
D. Secondary sex characteristics begin to
develop
E. Second fastest period of growth
F. Hormones develop- estrogen & progesterone-
girls & testosterone-boys
G. Developmental Tasks
1. Form mature relationships
2. achieve a masculine or feminine social role
3. accept one’s physique and use one’s body effectively
4. Achieve emotional independence from parents and other adults
5. prepare for marriage and family life
6. prepare for career
7. acquire personal standards
8. develop social intelligence-aware of human needs-helping others
9. develop conceptual and problem-solving skills
 VI. Stage 6- Young Adulthood
A. Generally age 20 to early 30’s- can start as
young as 17.
B. Financially independent from parents
C. Can deal with everyday life trials with
maturity
D. At peak of physical abilities- strength,
quickness, alertness
E. Crucial life decisions made- marriage,
career, children
F. Intimacy vs. Isolation
 VII. Stage 7- Middle Adulthood
A. 35-65 years
B. Start thinking in terms of what to do with the rest of their lives.
C. Feeling that time is running out
D. Start to face death of parents
E. Mid-life crisis common- divorce, career change, remarriage
1. some have not accepted middle age- can lead to problems
adjusting
2. Their children may be going through adolescence, during this
time which can add to conflict.
 VIII. Stage 8- Late Adulthood
A. 65 and older
B. Retirement common
C. Senior citizen does not equate
to old anymore.
D. Longer life expectancy- 85 and
older common.
E. Better health practices than in
the past.
F. Measures of Age
1. Chronological- How old you
actually are
2. Biological- how well your body
is holding up
influenced by diet, exercise,
lifestyle, heredity
3. Social- a person’s lifestyle
G. Grandchildren become important
H. Must face death
 IX. Death- Stages of Acceptance
1. Denial- “No not me”- can’t accept news
of a death or their own imminent
death.
2. Anger- “Why me?” Stage-resentment,
sometimes leads to isolation,
rejection
3. Bargaining- begins to accept reality, but
bargains for more time by praying,
other medical treatments, etc.
4. Depression-time of grieving for what the
patient has already lost and will
lose. Worries about family, money,
fells sense of great loss.-Encourage
him or her to grieve
5. Acceptance – Allows for action and
facing reality in a constructive way.
Closure is important. Not a happy
stage, but not helpless either.