ERIK ERIKSON

PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT

Presented by:
Denisha Grindley
Shannon Mckenzie-Gayle
Daniel Vassell
IF LIFE IS TO BE SUSTAINED, HOPE MUST REMAIN

TOPICS TO BE
DISCUSSED
1. WHO IS ERIK ERIKSON?
2. WHAT IS PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT?
3. WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?
4. WHAT DO OTHERS HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT?
WHO IS ERIK ERIKSON?
ERIK ERIKSON WAS A VERY RENOWNED
PSYCHOTHERAPIST OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND
IS RANKED AS THE 20TH CENTURY'S 12TH MOST-
MENTIONED PSYCHOLOGIST. A GERMAN-
AMERICAN DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENTIST AND
PSYCHOTHERAPIST, ERIK ERIKSON, LIVED FROM
1902 TO 1994.
HE IS WELL-KNOWN FOR CREATING THE
EXPRESSION "IDENTITY CRISIS" AND FOR HIS
THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. HIS

Psychoanalyst
ERUDITION AND PURE HARD WORK ALLOWED
ERIKSON TO TEACH AT ESTEEMED US COLLEGES,
INCLUDING HARVARD, YALE, AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, WHILE
NEVER HAVING RECEIVED HIS DEGREE.
WHAT IS PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT

FOUNDER OF THE PSYCHO-SOCIAL

ACCORDING TO BHARATI (2020), “THE TERM

DEVELOPMENT THEORY
‘PSYCHOSOCIAL’ LITERALLY MEANS A
COMBINATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND
SOCIAL FACTORS THAT COLLECTIVELY
INFLUENCE HUMAN BEHAVIOR.”
HENCE PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, IS A
THEORY THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE VARIOUS
CRISES FACED BY AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE
RESULTING VIRTUES GAINED WHILE PASSING
THROUGH THE VARIOUS STAGES OF LIFE,
FROM BIRTH UNTIL DEATH.
THE STAGES OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT TRUST VS MISTRUST AUTONOMY VS INITIATIVE VS
SHAME & DOUBT GUILT
Infant
Toddler Pre-Schooler
THE STAGES OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT GRADE-SCHOOLER TEENAGER YOUNG ADULT
Industry vs Identity vs Intimacy vs
Inferiority Role Confusion Isolation
THE STAGES OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT MIDDLE-AGE OLDER ADULT
ADULT
Integrity vs
Generativity vs Despair
Stagnation
 THE STAGES OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
VIDEO OVERVIEW
TRUST VS MISTRUST
WHAT IS TRUST VS
MISTRUST
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST IN THIS DEPENDENT STAGE, BETWEEN
BIRTH AND 1 YEAR OLD, IS CRUCIAL TO THE FUNDAMENTAL STAGE OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS STAGE IS WHERE A CHILD RELIES ON ADULT CARERS, NAMELY THEIR
MOTHER, FOR SURVIVAL. DUE TO THEIR DEPENDENCE, CHILDREN IN THIS
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT REQUIRE ADEQUATE CARE, LOVE, AND
ATTENTION.
WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE REQUIRED CARE AND AFFECTION, THEY
DEVELOP A HEALTHY TRUST IN THEIR MOTHER AND, BY EXTENSION, IN
THE WORLD. HOWEVER, THE ABSENCE OF LOVE AND CARE PLANTS
MISTRUST IN THE CHILD'S PSYCHE.
AUTONOMY VS SHAME AND DOUBT
WHAT IS AUTONOMY VS SHAME AND DOUBT

THE SECOND STAGE OF ERIKSON'S THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE DURING THE TODDLER/EARLY CHILDHOOD
STAGE. THIS IS WHERE CHILDREN BEGIN TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF SELF-
CONSCIOUSNESS.
AT THIS STAGE, BOTH PARENTS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ENSURING
THAT THEIR CHILD DEVELOPS A STABLE SENSE OF SELF AND SELF-
CONTROL, AS A LACK OF THIS LEADS TO THE CHILD DEVELOPING A SENSE
OF SHAME AND DOUBT ABOUT THEMSELVES.
INITIATIVE VS GUILT
WHAT IS INITIATIVE VS GUILT

THE INITIATIVE VS. GUILT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OCCURS DURING THE

CHILD'S YEARS IN PRE-SCHOOL. CHILDREN ARE STARTING TO TAKE THE
INITIATIVE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THIS INITIATIVE
MANIFESTS ITSELF IN OBSERVING HOW TOYS WORK AND INTERACT WITH
EACH OTHER.
THE FAMILY PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE DURING THIS STAGE, IF THEY
SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S INQUISITIVE NATURE, THE CHILD WILL DEVELOP
A HEALTHY SENSE OF CURIOSITY. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE CHILD IS
REBUKED OR SCOLDED FOR THEIR EXPLORATION, THEY DEVELOP A SENSE
OF GUILT AND LACK THE URGE TO TAKE INITIATIVE.
INDUSTRY VS INFERIORITY
WHAT IS INDUSTRY VS INFERIORITY

THIS STAGE OCCURS DURING THE PRIMARY OR PREPARATORY SCHOOL

YEARS. CHILDREN BEGIN TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND
DEVELOP A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE AND BE DIFFERENT. DURING THIS STAGE,
THE CHILD'S ENVIRONMENT, NAMELY THEIR SCHOOL, NEIGHBOURS, ETC.,
BEGINS TO HAVE AN INFLUENCE OVER THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
AMIDST THEIR PURSUIT OF ACHIEVEMENT, IF THE CHILD IS ENCOURAGED
VIA RECOGNITION FROM THEIR PEERS, TEACHERS, ETC., THE CHILD
BECOMES INDUSTRIOUS.
NOTABLY, IF THE CHILD DOES NOT RECEIVE RECOGNITION OR IS
DISCOURAGED, THEY DEVELOP A SENSE OF INFERIORITY.
IDENTITY VS ROLE CONFUSION
WHAT IS IDENTITY VS ROLE CONFUSION

THE FIFTH PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE, ADOLESCENCE, IS CRUCIAL FOR

DEVELOPING PERSONAL IDENTITY AND ROLE. IT INVOLVES EXPLORING
INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-DISCOVERY. SUCCESS LEADS TO STAYING TRUE
TO ONESELF, WHILE FAILURE RESULTS IN ROLE CONFUSION.
PROPER ENCOURAGEMENT AND REINFORCEMENT DURING THIS STAGE
CAN LEAD TO A STRONG SENSE OF SELF AND INDEPENDENCE.
HOWEVER, THOSE UNSURE OF THEIR BELIEFS AND DESIRES MAY FEEL
INSECURE AND CONFUSED ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR ROLE, AND THEIR
FUTURE.
INTIMACY VS ISOLATION
WHAT IS INTIMACY VS ISOLATION

ERIKSON'S THEORY EMPHASISES THE IMPORTANCE OF FORMING STRONG

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE DURING THE INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION
STAGE. ERIKSON PROPOSED THAT THAT FAILURE RESULTED IN
LONELINESS AND ISOLATION.
SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS FORM ENDURING, SECURE CONNECTIONS,
HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO EXPLORE PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS DURING THIS STAGE.
OUR FRIENDS AND ROMANTIC PARTNERS ARE VERY INFLUENTIAL DURING
THIS STAGE.
GENERATIVITY VS STAGNATION
WHAT IS GENERATIVITY VS STAGNATION

THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST IN THIS DEPENDENT STAGE, BETWEEN

BIRTH AND 1 YEAR OLD, IS CRUCIAL TO THE FUNDAMENTAL STAGE OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS STAGE IS WHERE A CHILD RELIES ON ADULT CARERS, NAMELY THEIR
MOTHER, FOR SURVIVAL. DUE TO THEIR DEPENDENCE, CHILDREN IN THIS
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT REQUIRE ADEQUATE CARE, LOVE, AND
ATTENTION.
WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE REQUIRED CARE AND AFFECTION, THEY
DEVELOP A HEALTHY TRUST IN THEIR MOTHER AND, BY EXTENSION, IN
THE WORLD. HOWEVER, THE ABSENCE OF LOVE AND CARE PLANTS
MISTRUST IN THE CHILD'S PSYCHE.
INTEGRITY VS DESPAIR
WHAT IS INTEGRITY VS DESPAIR

PEOPLE TAKE ACCOUNT AT THIS POINT IN THEIR JOURNEYS AND LOOK

BACK ON WHAT OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. WHEN
REFLECTING ON A LIFE THAT THEY THINK WAS WELL LIVED, PEOPLE
TEND TO FEEL CONTENT AND PREPARED TO TRANSITION PEACEFULLY.
INDIVIDUALS WHO ONLY EXPERIENCE REGRET WHEN THEY REFLECT ON
THE PAST WILL INSTEAD EXPERIENCE WORRY THAT THEY WILL DIE
BEFORE COMPLETING THE TASKS THEY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE.
 WHAT DO OTHERS
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
PSYCHO-SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
DR. KAUSHIK BHARATI
MSc, PhD, FRSPH (London)
DR. KAUSHIK BHARATI
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT ERIKSON’S THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?

“THE UNIQUENESS OF ERIKSON’S THEORY LIES IN THE FACT THAT HE

WAS THE FIRST TO PROPOSE THAT HUMAN PERSONALITY DEVELOPS IN A
PREDETERMINED MANNER THROUGH 8 SEQUENTIAL STAGES OF
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, STARTING FROM INFANCY AND ENDING
IN OLD AGE.”
“IMPORTANTLY, AS THE PERSON PASSES THROUGH EACH STAGE, HE
EXPERIENCES PSYCHOSOCIAL CRISES THAT COULD POSITIVELY OR
NEGATIVELY IMPACT PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPENDING ON
WHETHER HE IS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE CRISES SUCCESSFULLY.”
WHO IS CARLS ROGERS?
WHO IS CARL ROGERS?
CARL RODGERS (1902-1987) WAS AN
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST AND ONE OF
THE FOUNDERS OF THE HUMANISTIC
PERSON CENTERED APPROACH.
CARL ROGER’S THEORY OF SELF HAS
FOUND A WIDE APPLICATION IN
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELING TO
UNDERSTAND PERSONALITIES & HUMAN

Psychoanalyst
RELATIONSHIPS. THIS WAS ONE OF CARL
RODGERS MOST IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOLOGY.
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
CENTRAL TO CARL ROGERS’ PERSONALITY THEORY IS THE NOTION OF
SELF OR SELF-CONCEPT. THIS IS “THE ORGANIZED, CONSISTENT SET OF
PERCEPTIONS AND BELIEFS ABOUT ONESELF.”
CARL ROGERS’ SELF-CONCEPT IS A CENTRAL THEME IN HIS HUMANISTIC
THEORY OF PSYCHOLOGY. IT ENCOMPASSES AN INDIVIDUAL’S SELF-
IMAGE (HOW THEY SEE THEMSELVES), SELF-ESTEEM (HOW MUCH VALUE
THEY PLACE ON THEMSELVES), AND IDEAL SELF (THE PERSON THEY
ASPIRE TO BE).
THE SELF IS THE HUMANISTIC TERM FOR WHO WE REALLY ARE AS A
PERSON. THE SELF IS OUR INNER PERSONALITY, AND CAN BE LIKENED TO
THE SOUL, OR FREUD’S PSYCHE.
THE SELF IS INFLUENCED BY THE EXPERIENCES A PERSON HAS IN THEIR
LIFE, AND OUT INTERPRETATIONS OF THOSE EXPERIENCES. TWO PRIMARY
SOURCES THAT INFLUENCE OUR SELF-CONCEPT ARE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES AND EVALUATION BY OTHERS.
WHAT IS SELF-CONCEPT?
“THE INDIVIDUAL’S BELIEF ABOUT HIMSELF OR HERSELF INCLUDING THE
PERSON ATTRIBUTES AND WHO AND WHAT THE SELF IS” DEFINITION OF
SELF-CONCEPT BY ROY BAUMEISTER (1999). SELF-CONCEPT IS ALSO
RELATED TO SELF- IMAGE, SELF-ESTEEM,SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-
AWARENESS.
DEVELOPMENT OF SELF
A HEALTHY SELF-CONCEPT STARTS FROM CHILDHOOD AND IS
INFLUENCED BY PARENTING STYLES. THE PARENTS WHO
PROVIDE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE ARE MORE LIKELY TO NURTURE
CHILDREN WITH A HEALTHY SELF-CONCEPT WHILE PARENTS
WHO MAKE THEIR CHILDREN FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE TO
“EARN” THEIR PARENTS LOVE MAY DEVELOP LOW SELF-ESTEEM.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF IS A CONTINUALLY PROCESS AS
PEOPLE MAY MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE THEIR SENSE OF SELF. THE
THEORY OF SELF-CONCEPT IS THAT WE TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
SHAPING OUR SELF-CONCEPT AT ALL AGES.
POSITIVE REGARD AND SELF WORTH
CARL ROGERS (1951) VIEWED THE CHILD AS HAVING TWO
BASIC NEEDS: POSITIVE REGARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE
AND SELF-WORTH.
HOW WE THINK ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR FEELINGS
OF SELF-WORTH ARE OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE
CAN ACHIEVE GOALS AND AMBITIONS IN LIFE AND SELF-
ACTUALIZATION.
SELF-WORTH MAY BE SEEN AS A CONTINUUM FROM VERY
HIGH TO VERY LOW.
POSITIVE REGARD AND SELF WORTH
ROGERS BELIEVED FEELINGS OF SELF-WORTH DEVELOPED IN
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND WERE FORMED FROM THE
INTERACTION OF THE CHILD WITH THE MOTHER AND FATHER.
AS A CHILD GROWS OLDER, INTERACTIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT
OTHERS WILL AFFECT FEELINGS OF SELF-WORTH.
ROGERS BELIEVED THAT WE NEED TO BE REGARDED
POSITIVELY BY OTHERS; WE NEED TO FEEL VALUED,
RESPECTED, TREATED WITH AFFECTION AND LOVED.
POSITIVE REGARD AND SELF WORTH
POSITIVE REGARD IS TO DO WITH HOW OTHER PEOPLE
EVALUATE AND JUDGE US IN SOCIAL INTERACTION. ROGERS
MADE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE
REGARD AND CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD.
ROGERS BELIEVED THAT WE NEED TO BE REGARDED
POSITIVELY BY OTHERS; WE NEED TO FEEL VALUED,
RESPECTED, TREATED WITH AFFECTION AND LOVED.
POSITIVE REGARD IS TO DO WITH HOW OTHER PEOPLE
EVALUATE AND JUDGE US IN SOCIAL INTERACTION. ROGERS
MADE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE
REGARD AND CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD.
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD IS A CONCEPT
IN PSYCHOLOGY INTRODUCED BY CARL ROGERS, A
PIONEER IN CLIENT-CENTERED THERAPY.
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD IS WHERE
PARENTS, SIGNIFICANT OTHER ACCEPT AND LOVE
THE PERSON FOR WHAT HE OR SHE IS, AND
REFRAIN FROM ANY JUDGMENT OR CRITICISM.
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD CAN BE USED BY PARENTS,
TEACHERS, MENTORS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN THEIR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN, TO FOSTER A POSITIVE SENSE
OF SELF-WORTH AND LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES IN
ADULTHOOD.
FOR EXAMPLE THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNCONDITIONAL
POSITIVE REGARD ARE THAT THE PERSON FEELS FREE TO TRY
THINGS OUT AND MAKE MISTAKES, EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY
LEAD TO GETTING IT WORSE AT TIMES. PEOPLE WHO CAN
SELF-ACTUALIZE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE RECEIVED
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD IN THEIR CHILDHOOD.
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
EXAMPLES OF UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD IN
COUNSELING INVOLVE THE COUNSELOR MAINTAINING A NON-
JUDGMENTAL STANCE EVEN WHEN THE CLIENT DISPLAYS
MORALLY WRONG BEHAVIORS. THE GOAL IS NOT TO VALIDATE
OR CONDONE THESE BEHAVIORS, BUT TO CREATE A SAFE
SPACE FOR THE CLIENT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND BUILD A
TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THERAPIST, ENABLING THE
CLIENT TO SHARE OPENLY.
CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD IS A CONCEPT IN PSYCHOLOGY
THAT REFERS TO THE EXPRESSION OF ACCEPTANCE AND
APPROVAL BY OTHERS (OFTEN PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS) ONLY
WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL BEHAVES IN A CERTAIN ACCEPTABLE OR
APPROVED WAY. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS POSITIVE REGARD,
LOVE, OR ACCEPTANCE IS CONDITIONALLY BASED ON THE
INDIVIDUAL’S BEHAVIORS, ATTITUDES, OR VIEWS.
ALIGNING WITH THOSE EXPECTED OR VALUED BY THE PERSON
GIVING THE REGARD. ACCORDING TO ROGERS, CONDITIONAL
POSITIVE REGARD IN CHILDHOOD CAN LEAD TO CONDITIONS OF
WORTH IN ADULTHOOD, WHERE A PERSON’S SELF-ESTEEM AND
SELF-WORTH MAY DEPEND HEAVILY ON MEETING CERTAIN
STANDARDS OR EXPECTATIONS.
CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
THESE CONDITIONS OF WORTH CAN CREATE A DISCREPANCY
BETWEEN A PERSON’S REAL SELF AND IDEAL SELF, POSSIBLY
LEADING TO INCONGRUENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS.
CONGRUENCE
ROGERS BELIEVED THAT INDIVIDUALS TEND TO HOLD A
CONCEPT OF THEIR “IDEAL SELF” HOWEVER IF THEIR SELF-
IMAGE DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THEIR IDEAL SELF THEN THEY
ARE IN A STATE OF INCONGRUENCE. ROGER’S BELIEVE THAT
OUR PERSONALITY IS DRIVEN BY OUR DESIRE FOR SELF-
ACTUALIZATION. FURTHERMORE, INDIVIDUALS CAN PURSUE
SELF-ACTUALIZATION GOALS TO ACHIEVE A SENSE OF
CONGRUENCE.
 REFERENCES
ERIK ERIKSON QUOTE. (2024). A-Z QUOTES. HTTPS://WWW.AZQUOTES.COM/QUOTE/1315611
SPROUTS. (2017). 8 STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT BY ERIK ERIKSON [YOUTUBE VIDEO]. IN YOUTUBE.
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=AYCBDZLCDBQ
‌(2024). SLIDESHARECDN.COM. HTTPS://IMAGE.SLIDESHARECDN.COM/ERIKERIKSON-STAGESOFDEVELOPMENT-
130526165544-PHPAPP02/85/ERIK-ERIKSON-STAGES-OF-DEVELOPMENT-11-320.JPG?CB=1665828100
‌HTTPS://WWW.VERYWELLMIND.COM/ERIK-ERIKSONS-STAGES-OF-PSYCHOSOCIAL-DEVELOPMENT-2795740
HTTPS://WWW.MEDINDIA.NET/HEALTH/LIFESTYLE/ERIKSONS-THEORY-OF-PSYCHOSOCIAL-DEVELOPMENT-WHY-IS-IT-
STILL-RELEVANT-TODAY.HTM
HTTPS://WWW.MEDINDIA.NET/MEDICAL-REVIEW-TEAM/DR-KAUSHIK-BHARATI.ASP
CARL ROGERS (1902-1987)» INTERNATIONAL NETWORK ON PERSONAL MEANING. (2017, DECEMBER 14). INTERNATIONAL
NETWORK ON PERSONAL MEANING. HTTPS://WWW.MEANING.CA/INFLUENTIAL-THERAPIST/CARL-ROGERS/
‌

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THAT’S ALL FOLKS