Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist who developed the most popular theories of development. While his theory was impressed by the work of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, Erikson’s theory focused on the psychosocial development rather than psychosexual stages of Freud.
The stages that make up his theory are:
• TRUST vs MISTRUST
• AUTONOMY vs SHAME
• INITIATIVE vs GUILT
• INDUSTRY vs INFERIORITY
• IDENTITY vs CONFUSION
• INTIMACY vs ISOLATION
• GENERATIVITY vs STAGNATION
• INTEGRITY vs DESPAIR
Let’s take a closer look different stages that makes up Erikson’s psychosocial theory.
1- Trust vs. Mistrust
Age Infancy (birth to 18 months)
Conflict Trust vs. Mistrust
Event Feeding
Outcome Hope
The first stage of psychosocial developmental theory, that occurs between birth and 1 year of age. This is the most fundamental stage in life. Because an infant is utterly dependent, developing trust is based on the quality and attention of the child’s caregivers. If a child s develops trust successfully on his caretaker, than the child feels safe in the world. Failure of this stage will leads to mistrust.
2- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Age (2 to 3 years)
Conflict autonomy vs shame
Event toilet training
Outcome will
The second stage of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development takes place during early childhood and this stage is mainly focused on the children developing a greater sense of personal control. At this point of the development, children are starting to gain a little independence. They just starting to perform basic actions on their own like toilet, eating, drink. Failure in this stage, results in feelings of shame and doubt.
3- Initiative vs. Guilt
Age 3 to 5 years
Conflict Initiative vs. Guilt
Event exploration
Outcome guilt
The third stage, during which the preschool years begins. At this point, , children begins to start getting their power and control over the world through directing play and other social interactions. Children who are successful at this stage, are able to lead others. Those who fail to acquire these skills are left with a sense of guilt, self-doubt, and lack of initiative.
4- Industry vs. Inferiority
Age 6 to 11 years
Conflict industry vs inferiority
Event school
Outcome confidence
The fourth psychosocial stage, that involves the early school years. In this stage, Through social interactions, children begins to develop and promotes a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities. Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success in this stage will leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.
5- Identity vs. Confusion
Age 12 to 18 years)
Conflict identity vs RoleConfusion
Event Social Relationships
Outcome fidelity
This stage plays an essential role in developing a sense of personal identity which will continue to influence behavior and development for the rest of a person’s life. Teens need to develop and promote a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. During adolescence, children explore their independence and develop a sense of self.
6- Intimacy vs. Isolation
Age 19 to 40 years
Conflict Intimacy vs. Isolation
Event relation ship
Outcome love
Young adults needs to make, loving relationships with other people. This stage covers the period of early adulthood when people are exploring personal relationships. Success in this stage will leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation. Erikson believed it was vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people.
7- Generativity vs. Stagnation
Age 45 to 65 years
Conflict generativity vs stagnation
Event parenthood
Outcome care
Adults need to create things that will outlast them, often by creating a positive change or having children that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the world. During adulthood, we continue to build our lives, focusing on our career and family.
8- Integrity vs. Despair
Age maturity from 65 to death
Conflict ego integrity vs despair
Event reflection of life
Outcome wisdom
The final psychosocial stage, that occurs during old age and is focused on reflecting back on life. At this point in development, people look back on the events of their lives and determine if they are happy with the life that they lived or if they regret the things they did or didn’t do. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.
