Erik Erikson

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Erik Eriksons(1902-1994)

• Eight Stages of Development

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Who is Erik Erikson?

• A psychologist (professor of developmental
  psychology at Harvard University).
• Deals with the role of society, parents, and the
  individual in the development of personality.
• Failures in one stage will accumulate in later
  stages, but they can also be rectified, so there
  is hope
• Direct links to the Family Life Cycle Theory.

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Stage 1 Trust vs. Mistrust

• First year of life
• Basic care or neglect determines general trust or
  mistrust in those around you

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Stage 2 Autonomy vs. Doubt

• Occurs between 2-3 years old
• This is the time where a child is acquiring new
  mental and motor skills child really tries to
  do things on their own
• The desire to do things independently autonomy
• Autonomy must outweigh doubt, but some doubt
  still allows for dependence on parents

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Stage 3 Initiative vs. Guilt

• Occurs between 4-5 years old
• During this stage a child initiates activities
• Uses more fantasy and imagination
• Guilt comes into the picture when parent(s) make
  the child feel that his/her play is bad, or that
  his/her questions are a nuisance

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Stage 4 Industry vs. Inferiority

• Occurs between 6-11 years old
• Industry means the child is
• concerned with how things work
• and what they do (children discover building,
  baking)
• Parents can encourage industry or discourage it
  by chastising
• Inferiority is apparent when a child begins
  feeling judged or graded (parents and good
  teachers can try to diminish inferiority
  complexes)

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Stage 5 Identity vs. Role Confusion

• Occurs between 12-18 years old
• Start to develop a sense of who you are, where
  youve been, and where you want to go (all
  combine to form your identity)
• Role confusion often grows out of this ? many
  delinquents are caught up in this stage, they may
  figure a negative identity is better than no
  identity

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Stage 6 Intimacy vs. Isolation

• Occurs during young adulthood (approx. 18 yrs
  early family life)
• Intimacy means you have the ability to share and
  care for another without losing your sense of
  self
• Without intimate friends or partners you have no
  one to care for other than yourself which can
  lead to a sense of isolation

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Stage 7 Generativity vs. Self Absorption

• Occurs during middle age (40s 50s)
• Generativity concern with others beyond your
  immediate family
• Self Absorption personal needs and comforts are
  a predominant concern

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Stage 8 Integrity vs. Despair

• Occurs in senior citizens
• Integrity satisfaction with your life
• Despair see life as a series of missed
  opportunities but also realize it is too late to
  go back and do things differently