Erik Erikson
Theory of Psychosocial
Development
Amber Steele
Brianne Boesiger
Erik Erikson
1902 - 1994
Timeline- The Early Years
1902- Born in Frankfurt,
Germany
1911- Is adopted by stepfather Theodor
Homburger
1919- Begins travels
throughout Europe
Timeline- Young Adulthood
1927- Becomes teacher
at Hietzing School in
Vienna
1928- Studies child
psychology with Anna
Freud
1930- Marries Joan
Serson, a dance teacher
at the school
Timeline- Career
1933- Emigrates to US
1939- Becomes US
citizen
1960- Begins teaching
at Harvard
Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
8 Stages of man
Each stage includes:
Significant relationship
Psychosocial crisis
Potential positive or negative outcome
Disagreement on ages of stages, even among
contemporaries
The Eight Stages
Stage 1- Infancy
- 0-1½ years
- Maternal persons
- Trust vs. Mistrust
+ Hope,
drive
- Sensory distortion, withdrawal
Stage 2- Early Childhood
- 1- 3 years
- Parental persons
- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
+ Will power, self control
- Impulsivity, compulsivity
The Eight Stages
Stage 3- Pre-school
- 3-6 years
- Family
- Initiative vs. Guilt
+ Purpose,
direction
- Ruthless, inhibition
Stage 4- School child
- 6-12 years
- Neighborhood, school, family
- Industry vs. inferiority
+ Competence,
initiation
- Narrow character, low motivation
The Eight Stages
Stage 5- Adolescent
- 12-20 years
- Peer group
- Identity vs. role confusion
+ Self
certainty, fidelity
- Withdrawal, fanaticism
“Who am I?”
– Experimentation of different roles to find one most
suitable or comfortable
– Assimilating morals learned as a child to ethnics
needed as adults (ChildStudy.net)
The Eight Stages
Stage 6- Young adulthood
- Friends, co-workers, sexual partners
- Intimacy vs. isolation
Stage 7- Middle adulthood
- Family (partner, children),
community
- Generosity vs. self absorption
Stage 8- Late adulthood
- Society, the world community
- Integrity vs. despair
Application of Erikson’s Theory
Stage 4 (school age)
– Hands on projects
– Increasing influence
Encourage sense of accomplishment and self
worth
Finding the natural talents of individuals
Stressing the importance of individual success
Application of Erikson’s Theory
Stage 5 (adolescence)
– Seek leadership/ inspiration
– Understanding of distractions
Not belittling adolescence ideals
– Experimentation requires acceptance
– Sense of sameness
Encouragement of natural individual talents
Critics
Doubted his academic integrity
Questioned the stage theory as opposed
to continuous development
Said that his theory is more applicable to
boys than to girls
Complain that more attention is paid to
infancy and childhood than to adult life
Questions
What about those adults who rediscover
themselves and develop a different
understanding of their lives due to life's
changes and experiences?
Is it possible for an individual to change
throughout life?
How can his theory be applicable to the
changing environment of today?
References
http://www.alanchapman.com/erik_erikson_psychosocial_theory.htm
http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/erickson.shtml
http://childstudy.net/erikson.php
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.html
http://www.nndb.com/people/151/000097857/
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/08/22/specials/erikson-obit.html
http://www.phillwebb.net/History/TwentiethCentury/Continental/Psychoanalysis/Erikson/Erickson.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/08/22/specials/erikson.html
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1960/Erikson-Erik-1902-1994.html
Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice