ERIK ERIKSON

• Erik Erikson


  Danish German-American child psychoanalyst known for his theory of psychosocial development for human beings
• Psychosocial development


  Crises that involve the psychological needs of the individual conflicting with the needs of society
• Erikson's theory


  • Successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and the acquisition of basic virtues
  • Failure to complete a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further stages and a more unhealthy personality and sense of self
  • These stages can be resolved successfully at a later time

  
• Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development

  • Trust vs. Mistrust
  • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
  • Initiative vs. Guilt
  • Industry vs. Inferiority
  • Identity vs. Role Confusion
  • Intimacy vs. Isolation
  • Generativity vs. Stagnation
  • Integrity vs. Despair
• Trust vs. Mistrust


  First stage, begins at birth and continues to approximately 18 months of age. Infant is uncertain about the world and looks to primary caregiver for stability and consistency
• Trust


  If caregiver is reliable, consistent, and nurturing, child will develop a sense of trust, believing the world is safe and people are dependable and affectionate
• Mistrust


  If caregiver fails to provide consistent, adequate care and affection, child may develop a sense of mistrust and insecurity, leading to a belief in an inconsistent and unpredictable world
• Infant feeding


  Critical activity during Trust vs. Mistrust stage, one of infants' first ways to learn whether they can trust the world around them
• Trust in feeding


  When caregiver consistently responds to child's hunger cues, providing nourishment sensitively and reliably, child learns their needs will be met
• Mistrust in feeding


  If caregiver is neglectful, inconsistent, or insensitive in feeding, child may experience discomfort and stress
• Success in Trust vs. Mistrust stage


  Leads to the virtue of hope, as child can have hope that others will be there as a source of support
• Failure in Trust vs. Mistrust stage


  Leads to the development of fear, as child will carry a basic sense of mistrust with them to other relationships
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt


  Second stage, occurs between 18 months and 3 years. Child is focused on developing a sense of personal control and independence
• Autonomy


  If encouraged and supported in increased independence, child will become more confident and secure, comfortable making decisions and exploring freely
• Shame and Doubt


  If overly controlled or criticized, child may begin to feel ashamed of their autonomy and doubt their abilities, leading to lack of confidence and fear of trying new things
• Toilet training


  Critical during Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage, as child exerts independence and takes control over bodily functions
• Success in Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

  Leads to feelings of autonomy and a belief in ability to manage personal tasks
• Failure in Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt


  Leads to feelings of shame, self-doubt, and lack of confidence in abilities
• Initiative vs. Guilt


  Third stage, during which children assert themselves more frequently through directing play and other social interaction
• Initiative


  When caregivers encourage and support children to take the initiative, they can start planning activities, accomplish tasks, and face challenges
• Guilt


  If caregivers discourage the pursuit of independent activities or dismiss or criticize their efforts, children may feel guilty about their desires and initiatives
• Exploration


  Allows children to assert power and control over their environment, engage with surroundings, ask questions, and discover new things, contributing to autonomy and confidence
• Success in Initiative vs. Guilt


  Leads to the virtue of purpose, as children develop a sense of initiative and ability to lead others and make decisions
• Failure in Initiative vs. Guilt


  Leads to a sense of guilt, as child's tendency to take initiative is squelched through criticism or control
• Industry vs. Inferiority


  Fourth stage, occurring during childhood between ages 5-12, where children start to compare themselves to peers to gauge abilities and worth
• Industry


  If encouraged by parents and teachers to develop skills, child gains a sense of competence and belief in their abilities
• Inferiority


  If child is not encouraged or experiences persistent negative feedback, they may develop a sense of inferiority and doubt their abilities
• School


  Provides opportunities for children to learn, achieve, and demonstrate competencies, as well as context for social comparison with peers
• Success in Industry vs. Inferiority


  Leads to the virtue of competence, as child develops confidence in their ability to achieve goals
• Failure in Industry vs. Inferiority

  Results in feelings of inferiority, as child doubts their own abilities and may not reach their potential
• Identity vs. Role Confusion

  Fifth stage, occurring during adolescence from 12-18 years, where adolescents search for a sense of self and personal identity
• Identity


  If supported in exploration and given freedom to explore different roles, adolescent is likely to emerge with a strong sense of self and feeling of independence
• Role Confusion


  If restricted and not given space to explore, or if process is overwhelming, adolescent may experience role confusion
• Identity vs. Role Confusion

  The fifth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, occurring during adolescence (12-18 years)

  
• Identity


  • If adolescents are supported in their exploration and given the freedom to explore different roles, they are likely to emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control
• Role Confusion


  • If adolescents are restricted and not given the space to explore or find the process too overwhelming or distressing, they may experience role confusion
  • This could mean being unsure about one's place in the world, values, and future direction
  • They may struggle to identify their purpose or path, leading to confusion about their personal identity
• What Happens During This Stage?

  1. During adolescence, the transition from childhood to adulthood is most important

  2. Children are becoming more independent and looking at the future regarding careers, relationships, families, housing, etc.

  3. The individual wants to belong to a society and fit in

  4. Teenagers explore who they are as individuals, seek to establish a sense of self, and may experiment with different roles, activities, and behaviors

  5. This is important to forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life
• Moratorium


  A psychosocial stage between childhood and adulthood, between the morality learned by the child and the ethics to be developed by the adult
• Social Relationships

  • Supportive social networks that encourage healthy exploration of identity are crucial for adolescents
  • Parents, teachers, and mentors should provide guidance as adolescents navigate their social relationships and roles
• Formation of Identity


  1. Social relationships provide a context within which adolescents explore different aspects of their identity

  2. They try on different roles within their peer groups, allowing them to discover their interests, beliefs, values, and goals

  3. This exploration is key to forming their own unique identity