Eriksons Theory of Psychosocial Development

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Eriksons Theory of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson
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Eriksons TheoryBasic Tenents

• Suggests the existence of 8 stages through which
  people progress
• Each stage presents a problem or conflict that
  needs to be resolved
• Resolution of the problem/conflict influences
  personality development
• People progress through the stages sequentially

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Eriksons 8 Stages

• Trust vs. Mistrust
• Autonomy vs. Shame /Doubt
• Initiative vs. Guilt
• Industry vs. Inferiority

• Identity vs. Role Confusion
• Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Generativity vs. Stagnation
• Integrity vs. Disgust

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Trust vs. Mistrust

• Infancy (Birth - 1 year)
• Consistent need satisfaction results in sense of
  trust and faith in the environment
• Inconsistent need satisfaction results in
  distrust, suspicion and fear of future

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Trust vs. Mistrust
I am a child I last a while... What is the
color When black is burned... You are a man, you
understand you pick me up then you lay me down
again
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Autonomy vs. Shame

• Early Childhood (2-3 years)
• Favorable resolution a sense of self control
  and adequacy
• Unfavorable resolution feelings of shame and
  doubt

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Initiative vs. Guilt

• Play years (ages 3 - 5)
• Favorable outcome ability to be a self
  starter and initiate ones own activities
• Unfavorable outcome sense of guilt and
  inadequacy to be on ones own

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Industry vs. Inferiority

• School Years (Ages 6 - 14)
• Favorable outcome motivation to achieve,
  industriousness
• Unfavorable outcome inferiority lack of work
  motivation

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Identity vs. Role Confusion

• Adolescence
• Favorable outcome seeing oneself as a unique
  person, having a sense of identity
• Unfavorable outcome confusion over who one
  really is

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Intimacy vs. Isolation

• Early Adulthood
• Favorable outcome ability to make commitments
  to others, to love
• Unfavorable outcome inability to form loving
  relationships

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Source Princeton Survey Research, USAToday,
10/28/98
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Generativity vs. Stagnation

• Middle Age
• Favorable outcome concern for family and
  raising and guiding children
• Unfavorable outcome concern only for self

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Integrity vs. Despair

• Aging Years
• Favorable outcome a sense of integrity and
  fulfillment, willingness to face death
• Unfavorable outcome dissatisfaction with life,
  despair over death
• Harry Chapins Cats in the Cradle