CDEV 141:HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC;PSYCHO-SOCIAL THEORY BY ERIC ERICKSON

Psycho-social theory according to Eric Erickson

Erikson believes that human beings face eight major crisis or conflicts in their lives. These
form the stages of personality development. Each stage presents one with a crisis, if the crisis
is well handled a positive outcome is met, where else if the crisis is not well handled a
negative outcome is generated. Resolution of one stage brings the foundation for negotiating
challenges of the next stage.

1. Trust vs. Mistrust

The stage occurs at birth to 1 year old. Children must learn how to trust others particularly
those who care for their basic needs. It begins at birth and lasts through one year of age. If
baby’s needs are met, they learn to trust people and expect life to be pleasant. If these needs
are not consistently met, mistrust and anxiety may develop. At this stage, parents are
expected to take good care of their children and attend to their needs.

2. Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Occurs between ages I to 3 years. At this stage children should be taught the basic ways of
taking care of themselves including changing their clothes and feeding themselves. If a child
is successful in directing their own behaviour, they learn to be independent. If a child cannot
take care of his/her own basic needs and continues to rely on others to take care of him or her,
he may feel shameful.

3. Initiative vs Guilt

At this stage, 3 to 5 years, children like to explore and do things on their own. They can learn
new concepts introduced in school and are expected to practice those lessons. If children at
this stage succeed in taking responsibility, they feel capable and develop initiative. If they fail
in taking responsibility, they feel irresponsible, anxious and guilty.+

4. Industry Vs Inferiority

Occurs at 5 to 12 years of age. As children grow, they mature and their level of self-
awareness increases. They understand logical reasoning, scientific facts and other matters that
are typically taught in schools. At this stage, children are very competitive and they want to
do what other children of their age are doing. When children succeed at learning new skills,
they develop a sense of industry, a feeling of competence and self-esteem arising from their
work and effort. If children fail to develop new ability, they feel incompetent, inadequate, and
inferior. Failure makes the child to have negative experiences at home or with peers, an
inferiority complex might develop into adolescence and adulthood.

5. Identity vs Role Confusion

12 to 18 years. This takes place during adolescence and an individual is expected to develop
his/ her sexual identity. Adolescents are faced with deciding who or what they want to be in
terms of occupation, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour patterns. Adolescents who succeed in
defining who they are and find a role for themselves develop a strong sense of identity. If one
undergoes through this successfully, they develop a strong sense of identity and are able to
remain true to their beliefs and values in the face of problems and other peoples perspectives.
Adolescents who fail to define their identity become confused and withdrawn, or want to
inconspicuously blend in the crowd. Failure to undergo through this successfully leads to
development of a weak sense of self and experiences of role confusion. The adolescent will
be unsure of their identity and confused about their future.

6. Intimacy vs Isolation

This stage occurs in early adulthood. After development of a sense of self in adolescence, we
are ready to share our lives with other people. The task facing those in early adulthood is to
be able to share who they are with another person in a close, committed relationship. People
who succeed in this task will have intimate relationships. Adults who fail at this task will be
isolated from other people and may suffer from loneliness. People who succeed in this task
will have intimate relationships. Adults who fail at this task will be isolated from other people
and may suffer from loneliness.

7. Generativity vs Stagnation

The challenge is to be creative, productive, and nurturant of the next generation. Adults who
succeed in this challenge will be creative, productive, and nurturant, thereby benefiting
themselves, their family, community, country, and future generations. Adults who fail will be
passive, and self-centred, feel that they have done nothing for the next generation, and feel
that the world is no better off for their being alive.

8. Ego-Integrity vs Despair

People who are in their 60’s or older are typically restless. It is important for them to feel a
sense of fulfilment knowing that they have done something significant during their younger
years. When they look back in their life, they feel content as they believe that they lived their
lives to the fullest. Elderly people who succeed in addressing this issue will enjoy life and not
fear death. Elderly people who fail will feel that their life is empty and will fear death and
they will experience a sense of despair.