Erik Erikson - Psychosocial Development

     Erik Erikson (what a cool name!) was a student of Dr. Freud.  Although he studied stages of psychosocial development, his theories are not quite as sexually charged as Freud's.  Erikson was particularly interested in identity-formation and many people believe that this is because of difficulties with identity during his youth.

     Unlike Freud, whose theories concentrate on childhood development, Erikson's focus on the entire human lifespan.  His theories involve ego identity, which is the conscious sense of self developed through social interactions.  Every day we experience new social interactions and gain more knowledge and information.  Therefore, the ego identity is constantly changing.  Ego identity is tied in to a person's sense of self, including beliefs, ideals and values that help shape behavior.  Identity is formed early in childhood, is particularly important during adolescence and is constantly changing throughout life.

      Erikson believed that competence motivates a person's behavior.  That means that if someone completes a stage well, they will gain a sense of mastery, known as ego strength or ego quality.  If however, the stage and its conflicts are not managed well, the person will feel a sense of inadequacy.

       I found this great chart here that outlines the stages very well.  There are links to each stage so that you can learn more about them.  That's all for now on Erikson!  Happy studying!

Stage Basic Conflict Important Events Outcome Infancy (birth to 18 months) Trust vs. Mistrust Feeding Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliability, care, and affection. A lack of this will lead to mistrust. Early Childhood (2 to 3 years) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Toilet Training Children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of independence. Success leads to feelings of autonomy, failure results in feelings of shame and doubt. Preschool (3 to 5 years) Initiative vs. Guilt Exploration Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment. Success in this stage leads to a sense of purpose. Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt. School Age (6 to 11 years) Industry vs. Inferiority School Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. Adolescence (12 to 18 years) Identity vs. Role Confusion Social Relationships Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. Young Adulthood (19 to 40 years) Intimacy vs. Isolation Relationships Young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other people. Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation. Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years) Generativity vs. Stagnation Work and Parenthood Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having children or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the world. Maturity(65 to death) Ego Integrity vs. Despair Reflection on Life Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.