Erik Erikson was a German psychologist and psychoanalyst born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1902. He is best known for the his stages of psychosocial development. Erikson believed that from we are born and as we age, we go through changes based on age and the accomplishment or failure each stage.
There are 8 stages which each have an approximate associated age and issue:
- Infancy: birth to 1 year old, trust vs. mistrust
- Toddlerhood: 1-3 years old, autonomy vs. shame/doubt
- Preschool: 3-6 years old, initiative vs. guilt
- Elementary school: 6 years old to puberty, competence vs. inferiority
- Adolescence: teen years to early 20s, identity vs. role confusion
- Young adulthood: mid-late 20s to early 40s, intimacy vs. isolation
- Middle adulthood: 40s to 60s, generativity vs. stagnation
- Late adulthood: late 60s and up, integrity vs. despair
The first issue that occurs in life is the trust vs. mistrust. When a baby is born, they depend on others for all of their needs. If their needs are met, the infant begins to trust that they will be taken care of and the world is not scary. However, for those infants that cry and cry when they are hungry and no one ever feeds them, they have an absence of trust. There is no one for them to rely on and therefore, the world is a dark, scary place.
The next issue is seen during the toddler age and it is autonomy vs. shame and doubt. As young children approach the age of 2 or 3, with appropriate parenting they should start to want to do things on their own or with minimal help from an adult. Of course, some things need to be supervised or done by a parent. It is important to keep a child from feeling that they cannot perform a certain task or they will have doubts about doing anything for themselves as they get older. A good example is seen in the video. Potty training is a task that can stressful on the parent as well as the child. It is important to not become too frustrated with your child as to make them feel incapable of doing anything right, as Chuckie's dad does in the first part of the clip. As the clip goes on, Stu and Deedee help to give positive reinforcement once Chuckie does figure out how to go to the toilet when he is ready to go to the bathroom. Therefore, Chuckie does not feel shame but confidence that he can do it.
The third issue is initiative vs. guilt which occurs during the preschool age (3-6 years). This issue follows closely behind the autonomy vs. shame issue. This issue furthers a child's independence and ability to do things by themselves. If the child hasn't succeeded in autonomy vs. shame, it is probable that they won't succeed in initiative vs. guilt. Parents must have patience throughout this stage as a child needs to learn to performs skills on their own, which is the prime aspect of this stage.
The next issue is competence vs. inferiority, occurring at the elementary school age. It is at this stage that it is very important to give encouragement, praise, and confidence boosters to children. Children at this age are at school more than ever before and interacting with other children. If children do not feel competent, they will begin to feel inferior, thus affecting their social and psychological developments. Children may start to compare themselves to others, either boosting or destroying their confidence.
The fifth issue is identity vs. role confusion, which occurs in adolescence. Who am I? What do I want to do with my life? Who will I meet? Do I fit in or stand out? All are common questions during this particular stage. At this age, teens may have to try out different roles or go through "phases" before they decide who they want to be and hang out with. Even if they get through high school fulfilling a certain identity, the teenager has not even reached college yet, where things can change all over again.
The sixth issue is found among young adulthood and is intimacy vs. isolation. It is among this age group that it is a struggle for some to gain close relationships with others (either intimate or friendly). This issue is usually found among those in their 20s all the way to those in their 40s. This a struggle that almost every one goes through at some point in their lives. In this clip, Hercules understands that his love interest has been hurt before and doesn't want to put another stake in her heart. He promises to love her forever and be there for her always (common sayings among guys at this stage).
The seventh stage is generativity vs. stagnation. I do not have a clip for this stage but it is fairly simple to understand. At this age (40s to 60s), some people are able to retire (definitely not everyone). For example, Grandma retires to stay at home with Grandpa, who is already retired. Because they do not have anywhere to be (such as work), they seem to slow down or stagnate. However, if they sign up for a seniors class at their local community center or volunteer as a couple to walk dogs, they have a purpose and avoid feelings of worthlessness. They are generative.
The last stage is integrity vs. despair. "What did I do during my life that was purposeful?" or "Did I do anything in my life that is worth celebrating?" It is at this stage where an older individual may become depressed or invigorated with life, depending on the reflection of their life as their life may be coming to an end.
As these stages show, development continues from birth to death. Erikson created these stages based on his own life experiences as an outsider (his mother was Jewish and his father was a Danish Gentile).
Thanks for reading!
References
Eriksons Stage 1. (2008). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEHW8oTj0BA
Erik Erikson - Stage 2 Developmental Psychology. (2014). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru74VlqC8MU
Initiative Vs. Guilt - Little Louis. (2011). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvmwdN3qwX8
Industry vs. Inferiority. (2013). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvrRRYk9who
Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion. (2009). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJMXk5ibkQk
Hercules Clip One. (2010). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTy6KwotcSo
Integrity vs. Despair. (2013). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x49N4pi8of4
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