Question

Describe the assumptions of Erikson’s psychosocial theory and identify the stages with its crisis within each step.               

Answer 1

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

                     Erik Erikson’s theory of Psychosocial development is one of the best –known theories of Personality in psychology. Erikson’s theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages.

Assumptions

                     First, the theory assumes that humans all have the same basic needs that must be met. Second, it assumes that through meeting these basic needs, development occurs. Third, it is a stage theory that assumes that development occurs in distinct stages rather than in a continuous manner.

• People in general have the same basic needs.
• Personal development occurs in response to these needs.
• Development proceeds in stages
• Movement through the stages reflects changes in an individual’s motivation.
• Each stage is characterized by a Psychosocial challenge that presents opportunities for development.

Erikson’s Psychosocial stages of Development

                Erik Erikson proposed that throughout our lives, we encounter certain crises that contribute to our psychosocial development. He presented these crises as 8 stages of psychosocial conflicts, often known as the 8 Erikson stages.

1) Trust Vs Mistrust( Infancy- 0 to 1 1/2)

              Erikson’s first stage of psychosocial development starts from infant to about 18 months old.

• At this stage, infants must learn to trust others, particularly those who care for their basic needs.
• Caregivers who are sensitive and responsive to their baby’s basic needs, such as food and shelter, help their baby develop a sense of security.
• If the care givers are inconsistent and emotionally unavailable, that could develop a sense of mistrust in the children.
• For this sense of mistrust, children perceive the world is unpredictable and inconsistent.

1. Autonomy Vs Shame/Doubt(Early childhood 1 ½ to 3)

                       One-year-old to three-year-old toddlers are at the second stage of Erikson’s stages of development.

• Children struggle with issues of personal control and establishment of self as an entity.
• As children grow physically and cognitively, they acquire skills that allow them to become partially independent of their caregivers.
• Success leads to feelings of Autonomy, failure results in the feelings of Shame and Doubt.

3) Initiative Vs Guilt(Play age 3 to 5)

                  This Erikson’s stage of psychosocial development occurs at 3-5 years of age.

• Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment.
• At this stage, children learn about new concepts in school and through social interactions.
• They like to try out new things and learn to cooperate with others to achieve common goals.
• They make up stories with toys to demonstrate what they believe is the adult world.
• As children at this Erikson stage begin to perform more tasks, they learn the importance of social approval.
• It’s essential for caregivers to encourage and guide their children to explore within limit.
• Over-controlling and overly strict caregivers who discourage their children from exploring new things may cause their children to develop a sense of guilt.

4) Industry Vs Inferiority(School age 5-12)

This stage is based on early school from 5 to 12 years of age.

• During elementary school age (5-12 years old), children become more competitive.
• They learn to read, write, do math, and play sports.
• Children need to cope with new social and academic demands.
• They compare themselves to their peers as they feel the need to validate their competency.
• Success leads to a sense of competence while failure results in feeling of Inferiority.

5) Identity Vs Role Confusion(Adolescence 12-18)

             This stage of the Erikson stages of development happens during adolescence(12-18years old).

• Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity.
• They examine existential questions such as “Who am I?” and “What can I be?”.
• They also try to develop their occupational and sexual identities by exploring different possibilities.
• Young people who succeed at this stage develop a strong sense of identity.
• Those who fail to establish their own identity at this stage tend to be confused about themselves and about their future.

6) Intimacy Vs Isolation(Adult 18-40)

• After having developed a strong sense of identity at stage five, young adults (21-39 years old) become concerned about finding companionship and intimacy at Erikson’s stage six of psychosocial development.
• Erikson believed that a person want to make more close and committed relationship in this age.
• They are more willing to sacrifice and compromise for the sake of their relationships.
• As they form relationships with others, they also get to experience rejections, such as being rejected by someone they like and breaking up with their partners.
• Success leads to strong relationship while failure results in loneliness and isolation.

1. Generativity Vs Stagnation(Adulthood 40 to 65)

           At the seventh stage of Erikson’s stages of development, the primary concern of middle-aged adults (40-65 years old) is leaving a legacy.

• Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having children, or creating a positive change that benefits other people.
• During adulthood, we build our self on focusing on our family and career.
• Some people may experience mid-life crisis and struggle with finding new purposes in their lives.
• Failure to resolve the crisis at this stage may lead people to experience stagnation.

1. Integrity Vs Despair(Maturity 65+)

              At the last stage of Erikson’s stages of development, people are in late adulthood (65 years old and older).

• Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of fulfilment.
• When they look back at their lives, they experience a sense of integrity when they feel proud of their achievements.
• They are satisfied with the hand they were dealt with and have few regrets.
• This is truly possible on if they have successfully resolves the psychosocial crises in the earlier Erikson stages.
• Success at this age leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness and despair.