Erik Erikson
Psychosocial Stages
BY Lexi Altman and Chad Konik
Erik Erikson
● Ego Psychologist
● Developed 8 stages of
Psychosocial development.
● Stressed the emotional
dynamics of social
development.
● Born 1902 Frankfurt, Germany
Erikson Early life
● Born to Danish parents
● Father left before he was born
● Mother remarried a German-Jewish
pediatrician
● Mocked by non-Jews for his features
and his faith
Erikson’s Children
Sue
Erikson
Kai T.
(Daughter) Erikson
(Son)
Erikson Professional life
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Studied the work of Michelangelo in Rome
No formal degree in Psychology
Taught at Harvard and Yale
Worked with Sioux and Yurok Native American groups
Psychosocial Development
● The need for social approval is just as important as a
child’s sexual and aggressive urges.
● Childhood experiences have a lasting impact.
● If a child isn’t used to having a parent stay in their life,
that child could carry those abandonment issues with
them and develop insecurities.
● Secure-positive and emotional bond; upset by mothers
absence.
● Insecure- tendency to avoid reunion w/ parent or
caregiver, Desire to be with parent or caregiver and
some resistance to being reunited with mom.
Erikson stages of psychosocial development
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Stage 1: Basic trust vs. Basic mistrust
Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame
Stage 3: Purpose initiative vs. Guilt
Stage 4: Competence, Industry vs. Inferiority
Stage 5: Fidelity, Identity vs. Role confusion
Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnative
Stage 8: Ego, Integrity vs. Despair
Stage 1: Basic trust vs. Basic mistrust
● Infancy 0 to 1 1/2
● Hope
● How you treat your infant. If you give it
the stuff that they need like food, water,
shelter then itll think the world is a good
place
● if you don't give the infant the right stuff
it'll grow up with a bad view upon the
world.
● Childhood experiences have long
lasting impacts
● Ainsworth-Emotional Attachment
Trust V.
Mistrust
Stage 2: Autonomy Vs. Shame
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Ages: 1-3 years
Discovering one's own abilities
Asserting independence
Children encouraged in their
increase in independence become
more confident
● Children criticized, overly
controlled begin to feel inadequate
and depend on others
Autonomy
V. Shame
Trust V.
Mistrust
Stage 3: Initiative Vs. Guilt
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Ages: 3-6 years
Rapid development years
Asking questions
If the parents treat the child's questioning as a nuisance, they
feel guilt
● Too much guilt can result in the child being slow in interacting
with others
● Some guilt is necessary to teach self-control
Initiative
V. Guilt
Autonomy
V. Shame
Trust V.
Mistrust
Stage 4: Competence, industry vs. inferiority
Initiative
V. Guilt
Autonomy
V. Shame
Trust V.
Mistrust
industry vs.
inferiority
● School age (5-12)
● The child now feels like he
needs to win approval
● If you make him feel
approved then he’ll feel good
about himself and get
confidence
● If you make him feel not
approved then he’ll doubt
everything he does.
Stage 5 Fidelity, identity vs. role
confusion
● Age (12-18)
● Major stage where the
child has to occupy the
roles as adults
● They form their own
Identity
identity
V. Role
industry vs.
● They could become
inferiority
Initiative V.
Guilt
confused on their role
Autonomy
● Identity formation vs.
V. Shame
Trust v.
Identity confusion
Mistrust
Stage 6:Intimacy vs. Isolation
Intimacy v
isolation
industry vs.
inferiority
Initiative V.
Guilt
Autonomy
V. Shame
Trust v.
Mistrust
Identity
V. Role
● Struggle to form
relationships
● Struggle to gain capacity
for intimacy
● If not successful, can
result in feeling socially
isolated.
Stage 7: Generativity Vs.Stagnation
● Ages:Middle adult
● Career, settle down in
relationships, family, bigger
Generativity
V. Stagnation
picture
Intimacy V
● Give back to society by
Isolation
raising children, productive
Identity
V. Role
at work, involved in
industry vs.
inferiority
Initiative V.
community
Guilt
● Failure=Unproductive and Autonomy
V. Shame
stagnant
Trust v.
Mistrust
Stage 8: Ego Integrity Vs. despair
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Ages: Older adult
Senior citizens, slow productivity
Contemplate accomplishments
Success=Wisdom
Wisdom-able to look back with a
sense of closure and
completeness
● Except death without fear
Ego
Integrity V.
Despair
industry vs.
inferiority
Initiative V.
Guilt
Autonomy
V. Shame
Trust v.
Mistrust
Generativity
V. Stagnation
Identity
V. Role
Erik Erikson
Mary Ainsworth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxwWr6
T_O6s
● http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/Erikson.
htmln
● http://www.erikson.edu/about/history/erikerikson
● http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycw
eb/history/erikson.htm