32 Erik Erickson

PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
-Erik Erickson
BORN:
FULL NAME: 15 JUNE 1902, FRANKFURT,
Erik GERMANY
Salomonsen
DIED:
AT THE AGE OF
94
DIED:
12 MAY 1994,
ROSEWOOD MANOR, SPOUSE:
JOAN ERIKSON
HARWICH
(m. 1930-1994)
MASSACHUSETTS,
UNITED SATES
He was an artist and teacher
who became interested in
psychology when he met Ann
Freud, Sigmund Freuds
daughter.
 Erikson developed his eight
stages of psychosocial
development based on
Freud’s psychosexual
theory.
 Erik Erikson was a
psychoanalyst who developed
the theory of psychosocial
development.
 Erikson views psychosocial
growth occurs in phases.
 Together with his wife became

known for this theory.
Erikson’s Psychosocial theory of human
development
PSYCH = Psychological needs of the individual
O
SOCIA = Conflicting needs of the society
L
UNIQUE = Crises
CHALLENGES
SUCCESSFUL = Acquisition of basic virtues
COMPLETION
THREE MAJOR
ELEMENTS:
 Ego Identity Ego Strength
Conflict
STAGE PSYCHOSOCIAL CRISIS BASIC VIRTUE APPROXIMATE AGE
1 TRUST vs. MISTRUST Hope 0 - 8 months
2 AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & Will 8 months-3 years

DOUBT
3 INITIATIVE vs. GUILT Purpose 3 – 5 years
4 INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY Competency 5 – 12 years
5 IDENTITY vs. ROLE Fidelity 12 – 18 years

CONFUSION
6 INTIMACY vs. ISOLATION Love 18 – 40 years
7 GENERATIVITY vs. Care 40 – 65 years

STAGNATION
8 EGO INTEGRITY vs. DESPAIR Wisdom 65+ years
TRUST vs. MISTRUST
(Hope)
 From birth to 12 months of age, infants
must learn that adults can be trusted.
This occurs when adults meet a child’s
basic needs for survival. Infants are
dependent upon their caregivers, so
caregivers who are responsive and
sensitive to their infant’s needs help
their baby to develop a sense of trust;
AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & DOUBT
(Will)
As toddlers (age 1-3 years) begin to
explore their world, they learn that
they can control their actions and
act on their environment to get
results. They begin to shoe clear
preferences for certain elements of
the environment, such as food, toys,
and clothing, a toddler’s main task
is to resolve the issue of autonomy
INITIATIVE vs. GUILT
(Purpose)
 Once children reach the pre school stage (ages
3-6 years), they are capable of initiating
activities and asserting control over their world
through social interactions and play. According
to Erikson, pre school children must resolve
the task of initiative vs. guilt, by learning to
plan and achieve goals while interacting with
others, pre school children can master this task
. Initiative, a sense of ambition and
responsibility, occurs when parents allow a
child to explore within limits and then support
the child’s choice. These children will develop
INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY
(Competency)
 During the elementary school stage (ages
6-12) children face the task of industry vs.
Inferiority. Children begin to compare
themselves with their peers to see how
they measure up. They either develop a
sense of pride and accomplishment in their
schoolwork, sports, social activities, and
family life, or they feel inferior and
inadequate because they feel that they
don’t measure up. If children do not learn
to get along with others or have negative
experiences at home or with peers, an
inferiority complex might develop into
adolescence and adulthood.
IDENTITY vs. ROLE
CONFUSION
(Fidelity)
 In adolescence (ages 12-18) children face the task of identity
vs role confusion. According to Erikson, an adolescents main
task is developing a sense of self. Adolescence struggle with
questions such as “who am I?’’ and “what do I want to do with
my life?’’ along the way, most adolescence's try on may
different selves too see which one fit; they explore various
roles and ideas, set goals, and attempt to discover their
“adult’’ selves. Adolescents who are successful at this stage
have a strong sense of identity and are able to remain true to
their beliefs and values in the face of problems and other
peoples perspectives.
INTIMACY vs. ISOLATION
(Love)
 People in early adulthood (20s through early 40s) are
concerned with intimacy vs. Isolation. After we have
developed a sense of self in adolescence, we are
ready to share our life with others. However, if other
stages have not been successfully resolved, young
adults may have trouble developing and maintaining
successful relationships with others. Erikson said that
we must have a strong sense of self before we can
develop successful intimate relationships. Adults who
do not develop a positive self-concept in adolescence
may experience feelings of loneliness and emotional
GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATION
(Care)
 When people reach their 40s, they enter the time known as
middle adulthood, which extends to the mid. 60s. The social
task of middle adulthood is generativity vs. Stagnation.
Generativity involves finding your life’s work and contributing to
the development of others through activities such as
volunteering, mentoring, and raising children. During this stage,
middle-aged adults begin contributing to the next generation,
often through childbirth and caring for others; they also engage
in meaningful and productive work which contributes positively
to society. Those who do not master this task may experience
stagnation and feel as though they are not leaving a mark on
the world in a meaningful way; they may have little connection
with others and little interest in productivity and self-
improvement.
EGO INTEGRITY vs. DESPAIR
(Wisdom)
 From the mid-60s to the end of life, we are in the

period of development known as late adulthood.
Erickson’s task at this stage is called integrity vs.
Despair. He said that people in late adulthood reflect
on their accomplishments feel a sense of integrity,
and they can look back on their lives with few
regrets. However, people who are not successful at
this stage may feel as if their life has been wasted.
The focus on what “would have,” “should have,” and
“could have” been. They face the end to their lives
NURSING
IMPLICATION:
Application of
Erikson’s stages of
Psychosocial
Development helps
in analyzing
patients
symptomatic
behavior in the
context of
traumatic past
THANK YOU 

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PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 Together with his wife became

1 TRUST vs. MISTRUST Hope 0 - 8 months

2 AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & Will 8 months-3 years

4 INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY Competency 5 – 12 years

5 IDENTITY vs. ROLE Fidelity 12 – 18 years

7 GENERATIVITY vs. Care 40 – 65 years

 From the mid-60s to the end of life, we are in the

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