Erikson’s Eight

Stages of Psychosoci

al Developme

ntPresentation by Renee Illerbrun, Heather Kleinsmith, Kevin

McMullen, and Ann Pallifrone

Erik Eriksonand his psychosocial stages

Ideas influenced by Freud’s work with personalities

Ego psychologist Believed the ego develops as

it successfully resolves social crises

Maintained that personality develops in a predetermined order and each builds upon the previous stage

Interested in how children socialize and how that affects their sense of self

Eight Stagesof Psychosocial Development

Stage One: Trust vs. Mistrust

Can I trust the people around me?The most important period in a person’s life

Infancy

Trust• Stability

• Consistency

• Building blocks that are necessary to construct the trust for success in life

• Virtue of hope

Mistrust• Failing to complete the stage of

virtue of hope

• Increased/heightened sense of fear

• Anxiety

• General feeling of mistrust in the world around them

Stage Two: Autonomy vs. Shame and

DoubtCan I do things myself or am I reliant on the help of others?

Children at this stage are focused on developing a greater sense of self-control.

Early Childhood

Autonomy• Ages of 1-3 years old

• Independence

• Self-confidence

• Positive or negative

Shame and Doubt• Positive reassurance

• Over protective

• Feeling shameful

• Learn doubt

• Toilet training

“Erikson believes that children who experience too

much doubt at this stage will lack

confidence in their powers later in life”

(Woolfolk, 1987).

Stage Three: Initiative vs.

Guilt The child develops a fundamental understanding of morals and values. They gain self-esteem and

learn to cooperate with their peers. This is affected by a sense of power and control of their

environment, which concludes to the positive outcome of self-purpose and worth.

Preschool

The FactsInitiative vs. Guilt• Begin to explore their own feelings about themselves

while dealing with society’s perceptions and expectations

• Suicide risk• Anger directed towards themselves rather than

others• May also do things such as change their address,

practitioner, job/career, etc.• Feeling “worn down” and search for ways to quickly

escape issues• Impulsivity: a big characteristic• Abandonment issues• Feel stuck in the “victim” role

StrategiesInitiative vs. Guilt

1.Focus on attaining reasonable goals that build self esteem

2.Expand support networks – suggest support groups

3.Vocational rehabilitation evaluations can be initiated

4. Involvement with others – helps to remove personalized guiltex. “What did I do to deserve this?”

5.Peer to peer mentorship – helps transition to the next stage

Recovering people will apply the newly acquired coping skills and hopefully recover from their old ways of coping in order to pursue empowerment, minimize disability, and change

recurrent episodes/residual symptoms.

Stage Four: Industry vs.

Inferiority

Goal represented in this stage of development reflects the individual’s ability to rely on

themselves. During this stage the child will learn about friendship, self- evaluation and teamwork.

Provides a sense of ‘competence’ in terms of educational achievement.

School Age

Recovery ProcessIndustry vs. Inferiority

• Energy stage

Activity vs. Isolation and Rehabilitation vs. Static Disability

Addressed by seeking out greater levels of purposeful work and meaningful leisure chases

• People who negotiate a mutually flexible, combined relationship with their providers will progress faster

StrategiesIndustry vs. Inferiority• Pursuit of interests and activity

• focus involves increase in the basic drive to be productive as well as success with one’s recovery plan

• Vocational rehabilitation services

• Practitioner needs to continue to nurture both independence and production and assist the recovering person in determining comfortable limits on activity• should model problem solving skills and help come to

constructive solutions

Stage Five: Identity vs. Role

Confusion

Who am I? Who can I be?Children are exploring their

independence and sense of self.

Adolescence

The FactsIdentity vs. Role Confusion

• Ages 13-19 years old (adolescence)

• Fidelity is the main virtue

• Development of social relationships is important

• Concerned with appearances

• Sense of sexual identity

• Figuring out future roles in the adult world

• Risk of “identity crisis”

Stage Six: Intimacy vs.

Isolation

Will I be loved or will I be alone?The major conflict centers on forming

intimate, loving relationships with other people.

Young Adulthood

The FactsIntimacy vs. Isolation

• Ages 18-40• Newfound identity and meaningfulness• Developing intimacy and willingness to

express feelings and share experiences

Possible OutcomesIntimacy vs. Isolation

Failure to Establish Intimacy Results in:1. Loneliness2. Feeling or being uncared for

Success in Establishing Intimacy Results in:3. Close intimate friendships4. Feeling secure in relationshipsWhat is the importance in

understanding this stage?

Stage Seven: Generativity vs. Self-

Absorption (Stagnation)

How can I contribute to the world?

Adults strive to create or nurture things that will outlast them.Middle Adulthood

The FactsGenerativity vs. Self-Absorption

- Ages 40-65

- Goes further into looking beyond and toward the future

- Establishing family and productivity in the community

- If they do not feel productive or that they have accomplished their goals, they feel like they are losing the meaning of life- mid-life crisis

Why is this important to understand?

Stage Eight: Ego Integrity vs.

Despair

Did I live a meaningful life?People reflect on the life they have lived

and come away with either a sense of fulfillment or a sense of regret.

Maturity

The FactsEgo Integrity vs. Despair

• Age 65 until death

• Wisdom is the main virtue

• Retrospection (the final developmental task)

• Can occur out of sequence ex. Terminal disease diagnosis

Possible OutcomesEgo Integrity vs. Despair

Seeing Your Life as Productive/Successful:- Contemplate accomplishments- Develop integrity

Seeing Your Life as Unproductive/Unsuccessful:- Dissatisfied with life - Develop despair

- Can lead to depression/hopelessness

So, how is this theory relevant to

us?and

How does this theory help us

better understand ourselves?