Erikson's Theory of

Psychosocial Development
 The theory

 ErikErikson’s theory of psychosocial

development is one of the best-known
theories of personality in psychology.
 Itdescribes the impact of social
experience across the whole lifespan.
 Personality develops in a series of stages.
 Assumptions
 One of the main elements of Erikson’s
psychosocial stage theory is the
development of ego identity.

 Ego identity is the conscious sense of self

developed through social interaction.
 Assumptions
 Ego identity is constantly changing due to
new experience and information we
acquire in our daily interactions with
others.
 In addition to ego identity, Erikson also
believed that a sense of competence also
motivates behaviors and actions.
 Assumptions
 Each stage in Erikson’s theory is concerned with
becoming competent in an area of life.
 If the stage is handled well, the person will feel a
sense of mastery, which he sometimes referred
to as ego strength or ego quality
 If the stage is managed poorly, the person will
emerge with a sense of inadequacy.
 Stage 1:
Trust vs. Mistrust
 Infants must rely on others for
care
 Consistentand dependable
caregiving and meeting infant
needs leads to a sense of trust
 Infants who are not well cared
for will develop mistrust
Stage Basic Important Outcome
Conflict Events
Erikson's Psychosocial Stages Summary Chart

Stage-1 Children
develop a
sense of trust
-infancy Trust vs. Feeding when
birth to 18 mistrust caregivers
months) provide care
and affection. A
lack of these
will lead to
mistrust.
 Stage 2: (18 mos–3 years)
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
 Children are discovering their own independence
 Testing more independence by assuming more
self-responsibilities
 Those given the opportunity to experience
independence will gain a sense of autonomy
 Children that are overly restrained or punished
harshly will develop shame and doubt
Stage-2 Basic Conflict Important Outcome
Events
Children need
to develop a
Early Childhood Autonomy vs. sense of
(1 ½ 2 to 3 Shame and Toilet Training personal
years) Doubt control over
physical skills
and a sense of
independence.
Success leads
to feelings of
autonomy,
failure results
in feelings of
shame and
.doubt
 Stage 3: (3–5 years)
Initiative vs. Guilt

 Preschoolers learn to plan out and carry out their

goals
 Sense of accomplishment leads to initiative
 Feelings of guilt can emerge if the child is made to
feel too anxious or irresponsible
 Basic Important Outcome
Stage-3
Conflict Events
Children need to
begin asserting
control and power
over the
Preschool environment.
Initiative vs. Exploration
Success in this
(3 to 5 years) Guilt stage leads to a
sense of purpose.
Children who try
to exert too much
power experience
disapproval,
resulting in a
sense of guilt.
 Stage 4: (5–12 years)
Industry vs. Inferiority
 Stage of life surrounding mastery of
knowledge and intellectual skills
 Sense of competence and
achievement leads to industry
 Feeling incompetent and unproductive
leads to inferiority
Stage-4 Basic Conflict Important Outcome
Events
Children need
to cope with
new social and
School Age (5 Industry vs. academic
to 12 years) Inferiority School demands.
Success leads
to a sense of
competence,
while failure
results in
feelings of
.inferiority
 Stage 5: (Adolescence)
Identity vs. Confusion
 Developing a sense of who one is and where one is going in
life
 The adolescent’s path to successful identity achievement
begins with identity diffusion.
 This is followed by a moratorium period.
 Gradually, the adolescent arrives at an integrated identity

 Successful resolution leads to positive identity

 Unsuccessful resolution leads to identity confusion or a
negative identity
 Fidelity
Stage-5 Basic Important Outcome
Conflict Events
Teens needs to
Adolescence
Identity vs. Social develop a sense of
(12 to 18
years) Role Relationships self and personal
Confusion identity. Success
leads to an ability to
stay true to
yourself, while
failure leads to role
confusion and a
weak sense of self.
 Stage 6: (Young adulthood)
Intimacy vs. Isolation
 Timefor sharing oneself with another
person
 Capacity to hold commitments with others
leads to intimacy
 Failureto establish commitments leads to
feelings of isolation
Stage-6 Basic Conflict Important Outcome
Events
Young adults
young
Adulthood
intimacy vs. need to form
(19 to 40 isolation Romantic intimate, loving
years relationships relationships
with other
people. Success
leads to strong
relationships,
while failure
results in
loneliness and
isolation.
 Stage 7: (Middle adulthood)
Generativity vs. Stagnation
 Caringfor others in family, friends, and work
leads to sense of contribution to later
generations
 Stagnation
comes from a sense of boredom
and meaninglessness
Stage-7 Basic Conflict Important Outcome
Events
Adults need to create or
nurture things that will
Middle
Generativity Work and outlast them, often by
Adulthood
vs. Parenthood having children or
(40 to 65
Stagnation creating a positive
years)
change that benefits
other people. Success
leads to feelings of
usefulness and
accomplishment, while
failure results in shallow
.involvement in the world
 Stage 8: (Late adulthood to Death)
Integrity vs. Despair
 Successful resolutions of all
previous crises leads to integrity
and the ability to see broad truths
and advise those in earlier stages
 Despair arises from feelings of
helplessness and the bitter sense
that life has been incomplete
Stage-8 Basic Conflict Important Outcome
Events
Older adults
need to look
Maturity(65 to Ego Integrity Reflection on back on life and
death) vs. Despair Life feel a sense of
fulfillment.
Success at this
stage leads to
feelings of
wisdom, while
failure results
in regret,
bitterness, and
.despair
stagnation
 “ Hope is both the earliest and the
most indispensable virtue inherent in
state of being alive. If life is to be
sustained hope must remain, even
where confidence is wounded, trust
impaired.”
- Erik Erickson