Erik Eriksons Theory

Tejano, Jerlyn M.
Otlang, Reynette Joy G.

Tsuda, Ayumie L.
“Erik Erikson's Stages of Development: A Closer Look

at the Eight Psychosocial Stages”
Erik Erikson was born on June 15, 1902, in Frankfurt Germany and died on May 12, 1994.
He never knew his own father; he was raised by his mother and stepfather, who married in 1905.
Also known for his famous theory of psychosocial development and the concept of an identity
crisis. He was an artist and a teacher in the late 1920s when he met Anna Freud, an Austrian
psychoanalyst. He studied child development at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute through the
Montessori method, which focused on psychosexual and developmental stages, and received a
diploma from the institute but never received a formal degree. Instead, his knowledge is just
based on his experiences and extensive readings. He emphasized that the environment played a
major role in self-awareness, adjustment, human development, and identity.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 1: Trust vs Mistrust ( birth - 18 months old)

- The main goal of this Psychological Developmental stage is to teach us to trust the world
and the people around us.
OVERVIEW
This Psychosocial Development's initial phase includes:
● Psychosocial Conflict: Trust versus mistrust
● Major Question: "Can I trust the people around
● Basic Virtue: Hope
● Important Event: Feeding
Importance of Trust
➔ According to Erikson, this stage is the most crucial time in your child's life since it molds
both their personality and how they see the world.
➔ Erikson had the view that early trust-building behaviors assist children to build a strong
foundation of trust, which is essential for their social and emotional growth. In a sense,
you are molding their personality and deciding how they will perceive the world.
➔ Babies are largely dependent on their parents or other adults. Therefore, it should not be
surprising that parent-child interactions have a significant impact on both the physical
and emotional health of the latter.
Example :
● A child will feel safe and secure in the world if they are able to properly create trust.
Consequences of Mistrust
➔ Children who experience mistrust may become scared, perplexed, and apprehensive. In
turn, this may result in a lack of social support, loneliness, and seclusion.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 2 : Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt ( 2 - 3 years old )
- This stage establishes the framework for the succeeding stages by building on the stage
before it. Furthermore, this stage acts as a crucial foundation for later development.
Self-assured children are more likely to succeed in following activities, including
developing their social, intellectual, and other skills.
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial Conflict: Autonomy versus shame and doubt
● Major Question: "Can I do things myself or am I reliant on the help of others?"
● Basic Virtue: Will
● Important Event(s): Toilet training
Important Task
➔ At this period of growth, acquiring a sense of personal control over the world is crucial.
➔ At this age, children are becoming more independent and desire to have greater influence
over their actions.
➔ Various tasks are frequently significant throughout the autonomy against shame and
uncertainty stage of development.
➔ The ability to control one's bodily processes helps one feel in control and independent.
This is where toilet training comes into play.
➔ Gaining more control over food preferences, toy preferences, and dress choices are
further significant occurrences.
➔ Children in this developmental period frequently feel the urge to carry out tasks on their
own, such as choosing what to wear every day, dressing themselves, and choosing what
to eat.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 3: Initiative vs. Guilt ( 3-5 years old)
- At this stage, children begin to explore the environment, independence, and limit setting.
Like most stages, this is a balancing act of learning to initiate activities and play and
trying out leadership. Success leads to a sense of purpose while failure leads to a sense of
guilt.
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt
● Major Question: “ Am I a good leader or role model to others?"
● Basic Virtue: Purpose
● Important Event (s): Independence
PSYCHOLOGICAL STAGE 4: Industry vs. Inferiority ( 5-12 years old)
- At this stage, a child compares self to others during this stage and either develops a sense
of industry and work ethic or feelings of inadequacy. Success leads to competencies,
while failure results in a feeling of inferiority.
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial conflict: Industry vs. Inferiority
● Major Question: “ Can I really make it?”
● Basic Virtue: Competency
● Important Event(s): Competitiveness
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 5: Identity Vs. Role Confusion (12-18 years old)
- As they transition from childhood to adulthood, teens may begin to feel confused or
insecure about themselves and how they fit into society.
- Identity means fundamental organizing principle which develops constantly throughout
the lifespan.
- Identity involves the experiences, relationships, beliefs, values, and memories that make
up a person's subjective sense of self. This helps create a continuous self-image that
remains fairly constant even as new aspects of the self are developed or strengthened over
time.
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial conflict: Identity vs. role confusion
● Major question: "Who am I?"
● Basic virtue: Fidelity
● Important event(s): Social relationships
Role Confusion
- Kids who are not allowed to explore and test out different identities might be left with
what Erikson referred to as role confusion, which can result in the following:
➔ Being unsure of who you are and where you fit
➔ Drifting from one job or relationship to another
➔ Feeling disappointed and confused about your places.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 6: Intimacy Vs. Isolation (19-40 years old)

- The major conflict at this stage of life centers on forming intimate, loving relationships
with other people. Success at this stage leads to fulfilling relationship plans. Struggling at
this stage, on the other hand, can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- The major conflict at this stage of life centers on forming intimate, loving relationships
with other people. Success at this stage leads to fulfilling relationships. Struggling at this
stage, on the other hand, can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Intimacy was vital to develop close, committed relationships with other people. As
people enter adulthood, these emotionally intimate relationships play a critical role in a
person's emotional well-being.
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial Conflict: Intimacy versus isolation
● Major Question: "Will I be loved or will I be alone?"
● Basic Virtue: Love
● Important Event(s): Romantic relationships
Isolation can happen for a number of reasons. Factors that may increase your risk of
becoming lonely or isolated include:
- Childhood experiences including neglect or abuse
- Divorce or death of a partner
- Fear of commitment
- Fear of intimacy
- Inability to open up
- Past relationships
- Troubles with self-disclosure
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 7: Generativity Vs. Stagnation (40-65 years old)
- Generativity refers to "making your mark" on the world such as caring for others,
creating and accomplishing things that make the world a better place.
- Stagnation refers to the failure to find a way to contribute. Stagnant individuals
may feel disconnected or uninvolved with their community or with society as a
whole
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial Conflict: Generativity Vs. Stagnation
● Major Question: "How can I contribute to the world?"
● Basic Virtue: Care
● Important Event(s): Parenthood and work
Benefits of Generativity
When adults develop a sense of generativity, they benefit from a number of important
advantages.
● Better Health
● More Positive Relationships
● Greater Fulfillment
● Increased Community Involvement
Consequences of Stagnation
- When people fail to achieve generativity, they instead develop a sense of stagnation. Such
feelings can have an impact on how people manage the later years of their lives. Some of the
potential outcomes linked to stagnation include:
● Reduced cognitive function
● Poorer health
● Lower quality relationships
● Decreased life satisfaction
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 7: Integrity Vs. Despair (65 years old and beyond)
- Integrity refers to a person's ability to look back on their life with a sense of
accomplishment and fulfillment.
- Despair refers to looking back on life with feelings of regret, shame, or disappointment.
OVERVIEW
● Psychosocial Conflict: Integrity Vs. Despair
● Major Question: "Did I live a meaningful life?"
● Basic Virtue: Wisdom
● Important Event(s): Reflecting back on life.
INSIGHTS
- According to the theory, successful completion of each stage results in a healthy
personality and the acquisition of basic virtues Fin - Failure to complete a stage can result
in a reduced in ability To complete further stages and therefore unhealthy personality and
sense of self ka a more.
- As future educators, it gives us the idea that each of us faces conflict in our lives in each
stage, which may or may not be successfully resolved within every stage.
- It sets us thinking about what is appropriate at each stage, in our approaches to teaching
and learning, and may thus help enrich the school's curricular objectives.
REFERENCES:
How Erik Erikson’s Own Identity Crisis Shaped His Theories. (2020, March 20). Verywell well.
Retrieved September 27, 2022, from
https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-erikson-biography-1902-1994-2795538
Erikson’s Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2022, from

https://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/erik/bio.html#:%7E:text=Development
Text=On%20June%2015%2C%201902%2C%20Erik,crisis%20at%20an%20early%20age.
GoodTherapy Editor Team. (2011, November 11). Erik Erikson (1902-1994). Retrieved
September 27, 2022, from https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/erik-erikson.html

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Tejano, Jerlyn M.

Otlang, Reynette Joy G.

“Erik Erikson's Stages of Development: A Closer Look

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 1: Trust vs Mistrust ( birth - 18 months old)

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE 6: Intimacy Vs. Isolation (19-40 years old)

Erikson’s Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2022, from

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