Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Development

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Erik Erikson: The Father of

Psychosocial Development

“CHILDREN LOVE AND WANT TO BE LOVEDAND THEY VERY MUCH PREFER THE JOY OF

ACCOMPLISHMENT TO THE TRIUMPH OFHATEFUL FAILURE. DO NOT MISTAKE A

CHILD FOR HIS SYMPTOM”

-ERIK ERIKSON



Who is Erik Erikson? Born in Germany on June 1th 1!"#$ %e &as an artist an' a teacher in the

late 1!#"s &hen he met (nna Freu')an (ustrian psychoanalyst$ With(nna*s encoura+ement) he ,e+an tostu'y chil' psychoanalysis at the-ienna Psychoanalytic .nstitute$

%e immi+rate' to the /0 in 1! an'tau+ht at 2ale an' %arvar' /niversity$

.t &as at this point in his life that he,ecame intereste' in the in3uence ofsociety an' culture on chil''evelopment$ To satisfy his curiosity)he stu'ie' +roups of (merican .n'ian4hil'ren to help formulate histheories$ 0tu'yin+ these chil'renena,le' him to correlate personality+ro&th &ith parental an' societalvalues$



Fiel' of 5esearch%e stu'ie' +roups of (,ori+inal

chil'ren to learn a,out the in3uence ofsociety an' culture on chil''evelopment$ From this) he 'evelope'a num,er of theories) the most famous,ein+ his psychosocial 'evelopment$

%e ,elieve' that humans have toresolve 'i6erent con3icts as theypro+ress throu+h each sta+e of'evelopment in the life cycle$

Erikson*s theory consists of ei+htsta+es of 'evelopment$ Each sta+e is

characteri7e' ,y a 'i6erent con3ictthat must ,e resolve' ,y thein'ivi'ual$ .f a person is una,le toresolve a con3ict at a particular sta+e)they &ill ,e confront an' stru++le &ithit later in life$



Erikson*s 4ontri,utions

%e ma'e ma8or contri,utions inthe area of chil' 'evelopment ,ystu'yin+ +roups of 9ative(merican chil'ren an''evelope' the concept ofi'entity crisis$

%e &as concerne' &ith therelationship ,et&eensocietyculture an' chil''evelopment) &hich he terme';psychosocial 'evelopment<$

This interest le' him to 'evelopthe Ei+ht 0ta+es ofDevelopment$

.n each sta+e) the in'ivi'ualencounters a 'evelopmentalcrisis$

.n or'er to move on to the ne=tsta+e) the in'ivi'ual mustresolve the crisis$



Erik Erikson

A neo-Freudian Adheres to some of Freud’s ideas, but focuses more on social

influences.

Stage Theorist

Focus on Crisis Resolution At each stage a crisis must be resolved

f the crisis is not resolved, the individual ma! lack the "ositivecharacteristic in the stage.



Erikson*s Psychosocial Development

Age

(Years)

Stage PsychosocialCrisis

PsychosocialStrength

EnvironmentalInfluence

1 Infancy Trust vs. Mistrust Hope Maternal

2-3 Early childhood Autonomy vs.Shame and ou!t

"illpo#er $oth parents oradult su!stitutes

%-& 'reschool Initiative vs. (uilt 'urpose 'arents) familyand friends

*-11 Middle +hildhood Industry vs.Inferiority

+ompetence School

12-1, Adolescence Identity vs. oleconfusion

idelity 'eers

1,-3& /oun0 adulthood Intimacy vs.Isolation

ove Spouse) lover)friends

3&-*& Middle a0e (enerativity vs.Sta0nation

+are amily) society

ver *& ld a0e Inte0rity vs.espair

"isdom All humans



TR#ST vs. $STR#ST

%irth & '!r. (eeds being met

%asic trust develo"s )hen needs are met *Attachment+

oving relationshi" is formed )ith caregiver

m"ortant event Feeding



A#T($/ vs. S0A$E A(1 1#%T

' & 2 !ears earning to do things for oneself

1evelo"ment of "h!sical activities *e3. )alking+

m"ortant event toilet training



(TAT4E vs. 5#T

6 & 7 !ears 8reschoolers learn to initiate tasks

ne becomes more inde"endent



C$8ETE(CE9 (1#STR/ vs. (FERRT/

: !ears & "ubert! Child com"letes tasks themselves

earning on !our o)n

m"ortant Event school

; <hat is an inferiorit! com"le3=



1E(TT/ vs. RE C(F#S(

Teens & earl! 2>s Teens refine sense of self

Test ne) roles and incor"orate them into an identit!

; ?no) an!one that is ver! different no) vs. )hen the! )ere"re teen '>,'' and '2=

m"ortant events forming relationshi"s )ith friends



(T$AC/ vs. SAT(

2>s & @>s /oung adults develo" intimate relationshi"s

5aining the ca"acit! for intimate love

m"ortant event forming love and9or strong relationshi"s



5E(ERAT4T/ vs. STA5(AT(

@>s & :>s $iddle-aged discover a sense of contribution to this )orld

Famil! and )ork oftentimes satisf! this desire

Su""orting and satisf!ing future generation

m"ortant event 8arenting



(TE5RT/ vs. 1ES8AR

:>s Reflection on entire life

1id contribute to this )orld=

Sense of fulfillment



Evaluation of Erikson’s Theor!

Theor! does attem"t to sho) develo"mentthroughout life s"an

Children and adults ma! overcome "roblems that

occur during develo"mentStages are more descri"tive than e3"lanator!

Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Development

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