Erik Erikson and Stages of
Human Development
Mary Markowski
Texas Woman’s University
About Erikson
Important psychologist in the 1960s
 Believed childhood, family background and
individual life experience develop
personality
 8 universal stages describe human
development across the life span;
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each stage consists of crisis and resolution
with resolution necessary for advancement to the
next stage
Erikson’s 8 Stages
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Stage
Stage
Stage
Stage
Stage
Stage
Stage
Stage
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
trust v. mistrust (infancy)
autonomy v. shame/doubt (toddlers)
initiative v. guilt (early elementary)
industry v. inferiority (elementary & Jr. high)
identity v. role confusion (adolescence)
intimacy v. isolation (young adulthood)
generativity v. stagnation (middle adulthood)
integrity v. despair (older adulthood)
Stages relevant to adolescence and
sexuality
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Identity versus Role Confusion (12-18)
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"Who am I?“ single most significant conflict a person must
face
Must have had healthy resolution of all earlier conflicts
 Trust, independence, confidence
Positive outcome: strong identity, and ready to plan for
the future.
Negative outcome: confusion, unable to make decisions
and choices about vocation, sexual orientation, and role in
life in general.
Stages relevant to adolescence and
sexuality

Intimacy versus Isolation (19-40)
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Body is physically mature and self begins searching for
an intimate relationship with another
Desire for physical and emotional intimacy
Desire to find someone to share home, work, procreation
and recreation and prepare to provide for a future family
Positive outcome: close relationships and share with
others if achievement of identity previously.
Negative outcome: fear commitment, feel isolated and
unable to depend on anyone.
What does it mean?
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These 2 stages are vital in social and sexual
development
Forming a sense of self and finding the “right”
life partner are very important in development
What will I do, when will I do it, with whom will
I do it and how will I do it?
These are all important questions and worth
thinking about and preparing for
 especially as you move through high school
and college and prepare to be parents!!
Needs at
the
bottom
must be
met
BEFORE
needs at
the top of
the
pyramid!
DREAM/GOAL SHEET
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Think about everything you want to do,
see, experience, etc., in your life before
you die..................................
Now, categorize by age (by decade)
........Then think of who will help you......
References
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Erikson, E. (1968). Identity, youth, and
crisis. New York: Norton.