ERIK ERIKSON

Erik Homburger Erikson was a German-born American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his theory on psychosocial development of human beings. He may be most famous for coining the phrase identity crisis.

ERIKSON'S STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• This comprehensive psychoanalytic theory identifies a series of eight stages, in which a healthy developing individual should pass through from infancy to late adulthood.

ERIKSON'S STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, continused.

• Hope: trust vs. mistrust (oral-sensory, infancy, 0–2 years)
• Will: autonomy vs. shame and doubt (early childhood, 2–4 years)
• Purpose: initiative vs. guilt (locomotor-genital, preschool, 4–5 years)
• Competence: industry vs. inferiority (latency, school age, 5–12 years)
• Fidelity: identity vs. role confusion (adolescence, 13–19 year)
• Love: intimacy vs. isolation (early adulthood, 20-39 years)
• Care: generativity vs. stagnation (adulthood, 40–64 years)
• Wisdom: ego integrity vs. despair (maturity, 65 – death)

CONCLUSION

• Erikson acknowledges his theory is more a descriptive overview of human social and emotional development that does not adequately explain how or why this development occurs. However, one of the strengths of Erikson's theory is its ability to tie together important psychosocial development across the entire lifespan.