ERIKSONS PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY

P.SAGUINDAN
FLCD 101
I.

M.AZUPARDO

Biography
Erik Erikson was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1902. Erikson never knew his own
father; he was raised by his mother and stepfather, who married in 1905. He struggled
with his identity throughout his youth as he felt his stepfather never fully accepted him
as he did his own daughters. Erikson grew up using his stepfathers surname; he
eventually adopted the name Erikson in 1939.

II. Psychosocial Stages

III.
1. BASIC TRUST VS. BASIC
MISTRUST
IV. An infant in this stage is faced
with a crisis similar to Freud's oral
stage. He or she depends on others
to get needs met. If this is
accomplished the child developes a
sense of trust which carries on. If
this crisis is not resolved, may
carry a sense of mistrust and fear
into adult life relationships. Basic
mistrust, if strong enough, may
even induce a psychotic break. The
person doesn't trust the reality
systems of other people.
V.
VI.
VII.2. AUTONOMY VS. SHAME
AND DOUBT
VIII.
The child becomes
mobile with his or her world. Being
aboe to move about helps develop
a sense of independence
(autonomy) if encouraged and
there is a consistency from the
adult. A child faces failures and
inconsistencies feels shame and
doubts his or her self worth. Severe
toilet training attempts before the
child is capable of self control can
lead to this outcome, as can
unwinnable power struggles with
adults. (Adults getting sucked into

these power struggles result in the

"terrible twos.)
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.3. INITIATIVE VS. GUILT
XVI.
The child is at a stage
comparable to Freud's phallic
stage. He inquinsitively explores
his or her environment trying new
things. If parents reinforce this
sense of independence and
investigation, the child develops
initiative. When the parent is
restrictive, the child develops a
sense of guilt.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
4. INDUSTRY VS.
INFERIORITY
XX.
The child starting school
is faced with a new social role and
of getting approval from others by
being able to perform certain tasks.
A child not developing these skills
and feeling accepted on the basis
of competent performance will
develop a sense of inferiority. The
same applies to household tasks,
or tasks learned outside schools in
tribal cultures.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
5. IDENTITY VS.
IDENTITY CONFUSION
XXIV.
Freud called this the
genital stage. The person strives to

find identity and place in the world

sexually and socially. Trying to find
out what to do with their life.
During this stage if past
experiences are integrated, and
past crises resolved, there will be a
strong ego identity. When ego is
not strong, there is identity
confusion.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI.
6. INTIMACY VS.
ISOLATION
XXXII.
Central focus is need for
intimacy. Trouble in this stage is
being unable to relate intimately to
others. The person may develop a
feeling of isolation, feeling alone in
the world and with no one to
depend on.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
7. GENERATIVITY VS.
STAGNATION

XXXVI.
In midlife the need for
intimacy is not enough and there is
a need to generate oneself in some
way. The ability to look outside
onself at the world, contribute to it,
and in so doing, be happy. The
person not able to generate
themself in some way becomes
self-absorbed, self-centered, and
feels a sense of stagnation, asking,
"What have I done with my life?"
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
8. EGO INTEGRITY VS.
DESPAIR
XL. If the person has developed a
sense of unity within himself or
herself there will be ego integrity
making old age a happy time.
Erikson felt that if you had previous
unresolved stages and felt your life
full of disappointments and failure,
you may experience despair,
regret, and hopelessness in later
years, being unable to face life at
this age.

XLI.

XLII.