Erik Erikson

Psychosocial
Theorist
JP Zalar and Kylie Levin
Eriksons Background
From Frankfurt, Germany (1902-1994)

Early interest in art, taught as an art teacher alongside psychoanalyst Anna

Freud, who later encouraged him to explore the field

Interest shifted and he enrolled in the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute

Held many university administrative positions (Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, etc.)

Continued his learning and served as a clinician and consultant

8 Key Stages of Development
Believed people continuously develop throughout their lives

Established 8 psychosocial stages of development that people experience

Erikson in EI
Early childhood educators must support the development of:

Stage 1: Trust vs Mistrust

Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt

1. Trust vs. Mistrust
Birth to age 1

Parent/caregiver and child interaction

Confidence in other individuals

Lays the foundation for future relationships

Birth -1 Year
Trust Vs Mistrust

Infants struggle to develop trust with the world

Teachers need to be nurturing, responsive and reliable

Infants need:

Nurturing - Caring, compassion, gentleness, soothing

Reliability - the same teacher/ caregiver & routine

Responsive - Need basic needs met all the time in a timely matter
Birth -1 Year
Infants struggle to develop trust with the world

Is it Nurturing, Reliability or Responsive?

Same caregiver until preschool?

Talking to the baby during a diaper change?

Following a daily routine?

Singing songs?

Holding a baby?

Picking up a crying child?

2. Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
Ages 18 months to 3

Gain independence and knowledge of their surroundings

Develop greater motor and communication skills

Loss of confidence if controlled by parent

18 Months - 3 Years
Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt
Children have an increasing desire

to discover

Teachers need to support childs needs for independence and dependence

Children need:

Independence - Walking, getting items themselves, toileting, making choices, cleaning up

after themselves

Dependence - Need comfort and assistance, routine, adults set the stage
18 Months - 3 Years
Children have an increasing desire to discover.

Early Childhood Educators support this stage by:

Creating an I can environment

Providing safe, limited opportunities to explore

Supporting children in problem solving

Supporting self help skills

What does this look like?

3. Initiative vs. Guilt
Ages 3 to 6

Finding your purpose in life

Increase in responsibilities

Completing a task or they feel guilty

3 Years - 6 Years
Initiative vs Guilt
Children are eager to master new skills, use language to ask questions and interact with peers.

Teachers need to provide security and comfort

Children need:

Security - Safety in routines and rules, safe environment

Comfort - Need comfort and assistance, routine, adults set the stage

Erikson stressed that the child's misguided energy could result in verbal or physical
aggression. (Erik Erikson, 2001)
3 Years - 6 Years
Children are eager to master new skills, use language to ask questions and
interact with peers.

Build upon experiences from infant & toddler years

Recognizing Play with a Purpose

Supporting peer interactions

NAEYC and DEC recommended practices

4. Industry vs. Inferiority
Ages 6 to puberty

Introduction of the real world

Industry= working successfully

Can occur in different settings

Success or feeling of inadequacy

5. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Adolescence

Discovering your interests inside the classroom and hobbies outside of school

Identity Crisis

Transitioning into adulthood

6. Intimacy vs. Isolation
Young adulthood (~20-40 years)

Sense of belonging

Understand individuality or connections to others are difficult to grasp

Letting go of relationships
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation
Adulthood

Consideration for the next generation

Self-centeredness can lead to failure

8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair
Late adulthood

Reflection of past experiences

Feeling of disappointment

Might happen at different times during late adulthood

Childrens mastery of the each stage influences their
relationship and interactions life long. (Phelan, 2008)
References
80.01.04: Ages in stages: An exploration of the life cycle based on Erik Eriksons Eight stages of human development. (2016).
Retrieved September 20, 2016, from

http://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1980/1/80.01.04.x.html#a

Erik Erikson (2001). Early Childhood Today, 15(6)6, 49.

Howard, V. F., Williams, B. F., Miller, D., & Aiken, E. (2014). Very young children with special needs: A foundation for educators,
families, and service providers (5th ed.). Boston, MA, United States: Pearson, 94-95.

Phelan, J. (2008). External Controls: A Youth Care Framework. Relational Child & Youth Care Practice, 21(1), 38-41.

Psychology history. Retrieved September 20, 2016, from

http://muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/erikson.htm

Tu, T. & Lash, M. (2007). Dont Tell Me No; I Tell You No!: Facilitating Self-Control in Infants and
Toddlers.Childhood Education,84(2), 79-84