Erikson and

the
Psychosocial
Stages of
Development
Intended Learning Objectives
● Describe Erikson's theory as a whole and the main
theoretical concepts around it
● Explain the major milestones in in each stage of Erikson's
theory of development
● Explain Erikson's main mechanisms of development
General Orientation of the
Theory
General Orientation
● Erikson’s theory was built off of Freud’s theory
● Psychosocial Stages - connected the “sexual” aspect of
Freud’s work with “social” implications
○ A child grows in relation to society as a whole around
him/her
○ Culturally relative
○ Epigenetic principle - develop as we go through the
stages. Culture and society plays a role
General Orientation
● Psychosocial Stages - have crises that need to be resolved
○ Can move on to different stages even when crises are
not resolved
General Orientation
● Emphasis on Identity - man’s quest for identity
○ Identity in early stages builds up into the next stages
● Expansion of Psychoanalytic Methodology
○ Added direct observation of children, cross-cultural
comparisons and psychobiographies
Stages in the Theory
Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust
● Basic trust - an essential trustfulness of others as well as a
fundamental sense of one’s own trustworthiness
● Involves trust between parent and infant
● Mistrust is still needed to distinguish between those are or
aren’t actually honest
● Sucking, biting, teething, and weaning are prototypes for
the psychosocial modality of getting and giving
Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
● Independence develops and leads to possibilities and fears
● Important to balance self-control without self-esteem loss
● Bowel training must be just right or else child’s will can be
broken
● Holding on versus letting go. Failure to resolve this can lead
to Freud’s “anal personality”
Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt
● Who do I want to be?
● Identification with parents. Still brings in conscience
● Psychosocial modality of “making” - taking the initiative,
forming and carrying out goals, and competing
● Needs to prevent the development of guilt from an overly
severe conscience or the feeling of always having to be
“making”
Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority
● “I am what I learn”
● Entry into school, learning from friends and the home
● Successful experiences give children a sense of industry, a
feeling of competence and mastery,
● Failure brings a sense of inadequacy and inferiority, a
feeling that one is a good-for-nothing
● A calm, latent period
Stage 5: Identity and Repudiation Versus
Identity Diffusion (Adolescence)
● All previous stages contribute to identity formation
● Need to confront new roles
● If integration isn’t properly done, there is a risk for identity
diffusion
● The psychosocial modality of this stage is to be oneself or
not to be oneself.
Stage 6: Intimacy and Solidarity Versus
Isolation (Young Adulthood)
● A well integrated identity emerges will allow for intimacy
● Relationship with others but also oneself
● Solidarity is an aspect of intimacy
● Isolation will result in cold and empty relationships
Stage 7: Generativity Versus Stagnation
and Self-Absorption (Middle Adulthood)
● Generativity - “the interest in establishing and guiding the
next generation”
● Through child rearing or creative, productive endeavors
● There needs to be a focus on the future and others
● Stagnation - self-absorption, boredom, and lack of
psychological growth
Stage 8: Integrity Versus Despair (Late
Adulthood)
● Integrity - acceptance of the limitations of life, a sense of
being a part of a larger history that includes previous
generations, a sense of owning the wisdom
● Despair - regret for what one has done or not done with
one’s life, fear of approaching death, and disgust with
oneself.
Mechanisms of Development
Mechanisms
● Epigenetic principle - physical maturation +
societal/cultural pressure
● Freud’s drives, frustrations from external and internal
forces, attachment, and identification
● Resolution of conflicts
● Play
Position on Developmental
Issues
Positions
● More optimistic than Freud - seek pleasure but also develop
identity. Process of “becoming”
● Qualitative
● Contextualist
● Interactionist
● Essence of development is formation of identity
Analysis Paper
● Compare and contrast Freud and Erikson’s theories. Which
do you think is more applicable to your ND practice in the
future?
● Max 2 pages
● Font size 12
● 1.5 spacing