Erikson's Psychosocial Development

Untitled Slide

• Each of the 8 stages includes culture and society and how it is woven into our lives
• Virtues are positive outcomes (what traits appear if stage is experienced)
• Negative Outcomes are what occurs when one tries to skip a stage or it isn’t properly experience

1. Trust vs. Mistrust

• 1st year of life
• Looks to guardian for care and protection
• Virtue: If one receives care, they will form trust and hope
• Negative Outcome: one becomes fearful and suspicious

2. Autonomy vs. Shame

• 2nd year of life
• Autonomy refers to independence
• One explores making own decisions and begins leaning away from parents
• This is when one learns to fail or when to ask for help
• Virtue: one gets own will
• Negative Outcome: One feels inadequate, leading to self-consciousness and shame

3. Initiative vs. Guilt

• Around ages 3-5
• Child regularly interacting with other children of their own age
• One begins to plan, initiate activities, and form relationships
• One also begins to form leadership skills, make own decisions, and ask a lot of questions

Initiative vs. Guilt Cont.

• Virtue: one finds his purpose
• Negative Outcome: one will feel guilty, inadequate, and annoying as well as act as follower
• However, one must still have limits in order to form self-control

4. Industry vs. Inferiority

• Usually ages 6-12
• One tries to win approval from authorities by demonstrating valued competencies
• Virtue: one forms a feeling of competency or pride
• Negative Outcome: One may never reach full potential

5. Identity vs. Role Confusion

• Usually ages 12-15
• When one transitions from childhood to adulthood
• One becomes independent, begins planning for the future, and trying to feel like he belongs
• One is figuring out who they are, including body image and personal explorations

Identity vs. Role Confusion Cont.

• Virtue: one gains the ability to see oneself as unique; fidelity
• Negative Outcome: one will be confused about who he is, will feel unhappiness, and may begin to rebel
• This is arguably the most important stage

6. Intimacy vs. Isolation

• Usually age 18-40
• One forms long term relationships (commitment)
• Virtue: one is able to love
• Negative Outcome: one is unable to form relationships, often having commitment issues

7. Generativity vs. Stagnation

• Usually age 40-65
• One has an established career, is settled in his relationships, & often has a family
• One feels he has contributed to society by having children and participating in community activities
• Virtue: one care for others
• Negative outcomes: one feels unproductive, like he doesn’t contribute

8. Integrity vs. Despair

• Usually age 64 to death
• This is when one begins to slow down productivity and reflect on his accomplishments
• If one feels he was not productive, he will feel dissatisfied
• Virtue: one has gained wisdom
• Negative Outcome: one feels a sense of dissatisfaction

In the end...

• We all encounter a certain crises that contribute to our psychosocial growth at each of Erikson’s
• When we experience such crises, we must face it and think of ways to overcome/resolve it.
• Failure to do so may lead to significant impact on our psychosocial development.