PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY BY ERIK ERICKSON

Trust Vs. Mistrust

The trust versus mistrust stage is the first stage of Erik Eriksons theory
of psychosocial development. This stage occurs between birth and approximately 18 months
of age. According to Erikson, the important event in this stage is feeding. According to
Erikson, the infant will develop a sense of trust only if the parent or caregiver is responsive
and consistent with the basic needs being meet. The need for care and food must be met with
comforting regularity. The infant must first form a trusting relationship with the parent or care
giver, otherwise a sense of mistrust will develop. The infant's need for care, familiarity,
comfort and nourishment are met. Parental consistency and responsiveness is essential for the
sense of trust to develop. Babies who are not securely attached to their mothers are less
cooperative and more aggressive in their interactions with their mothers. As they grow older,
they become less competent and sympathetic with peers. They also explore their environment
with less enthusiasm and persistence. According to the client, his parents were uninvolved in
his life ever since he was a child. He was also left in the care of their house maids. With
these, we may assume that the client has received inconsistent care form in his childhood and
lack of parental response. Because of the inconsistent care rendered, the clients unattached
and distant relationship with his parents and also with his siblings may have resulted.
Autonomy Vs. Shame and Doubt
Gaining a sense of personal control over the world is important at this stage of
development. Toilet training plays a major role; learning to control ones body functions leads
to a feeling of control, a sense of independence and voluntarism. Other important events
include gaining more control over food choices, toy preferences and clothing selection. If
parents do not maintain a reassuring, confident attitude and do not reinforce the child's efforts
to master basic motor and cognitive skills, children may begin to feel shame; they may learn
to doubt their abilities to manage the world on their own terms. Children who experience too
much doubt at this stage will lack confidence in their own powers throughout life. During the
group therapies, the client participates when asked but not often does he volunteer. It may be
brought by the constricting environment that his parents has might imposed upon him during
that stage.