Eriksons

Developmental Theory
Erikson said that humans develop throughout their life span. He developed eight psychosocial stages that
humans encounter throughout their life. The stages are Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame & Dout,
!nitiative vs. "uilt, !ndustry vs. !nferiority, !dentity vs. #ole $onfusion, !ntimacy vs. !solation, "enerativity vs.
Stagnation, and !ntegrity vs. Despair.
% Trust vs. Mistrust occurs from appro&imately irth to one year. Erikson defined trust as an essential
trustfulness of others as 'ell as a fundamental sense of one(s o'n trust'orthiness. He thought that an infant
'ho gets fed 'hen he is hungry and comforted 'hen he needs comforting 'ill develop trust. He also said that
some mistrust is necessary to learn to discriminate et'een honest and dishonest persons. !f mistrust 'ins over
trust in this stage, the child 'ill e frustrated, 'ithdra'n, suspicious, and 'ill lack self)confidence.
* Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt occurs et'een ages t'o and three. During this period it is important that the
parents create a supportive atmosphere in 'hich the child can develop a sense of self)control 'ithout a loss of
self)esteem. Shame and dout aout the child(s self)control and independence occur if asic trust 'as
insufficiently developed or 'as lost such as 'hen the child(s 'ill is roken y an over controlling parent. !n this
stage, Erikson said the child encounters rules, such as 'hich areas of the house he is allo'ed to e&plore.
+ Initiative vs. Guilt occurs et'een ages four and five. This is the stage in 'hich the child must find out 'hat
kind of person he,she is going to e. The child develops a sense of responsiility 'hich increases initiative
during this period. !f the child is irresponsile and is made to feel too an&ious then they 'ill have uncomfortale
guilt feelings. Erikson elieved that most guilt is -uickly compensated for y a sense of accomplishment.
. Industry vs. Inferiority occurs et'een si& years and puerty. This is the period in 'hich the child 'ants to
enter the larger 'orld of kno'ledge and 'ork. /ne of the great events of this time is the child(s entry into
school. This is 'here he is e&posed to the technology of his society0 ooks, multiplication tales, arts and crafts,
maps, microscopes, films, and tape recorders. Ho'ever, the learning process does not only occur in the
classroom according to Erikson, ut also at home, friend(s houses, and on the street. Erikson said that successful
e&periences give the child a sense of industry, a feeling of competence and mastery, 'hile failure gives them a
sense of inade-uacy and inferiority, a feeling that one is a good)for)nothing.
1 Identity vs. Identity onfusion0 $omponents of Erikson(s prior four stages contriute to the fifth stage,
!dentity vs. !dentity $onfusion. This occurs during adolescence. During this period the identity concern reaches
clima&. According to Erikson this is the time 'hen adolescents seek their true selves.
2 Intima!y vs. Isolation occurs during young adulthood. !ntimacy 'ith other people is possile only if a
reasonaly 'ell integrated identity emerges from stage five.
3 Generativity vs. Sta"nation is to assist the younger generation in developing and leading useful lives. 4hen
the individual feels that he has done nothing to help the ne&t generation then they e&perience stagnation.
5 Inte"rity vs. Despair occurs during late adulthood. This is the time in 'hich the individual looks ack and
evaluates their life. !f the previous stages have developed properly then they 'ill e&perience integrity. !f the
previous stages have not developed in a positive 'ay then they 'ill feel despair.