Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

Erik Erikson was a psychoanalyst who lived from 1902 until 1994. Erikson believed that both cultural changes and social changes help shape human development. This is called a “Psycosocial approach” to human development.  Unlike sigmund Freud, he suggested that development continues throughout life rather than stopping around adolescence. He is most famous for coming up with the eight step Psycosocial Development process.

As humans progressed in age, their development and social behavior is based on different things.

Stage 1

For example, Erikson’s stage one features babies from birth to 12-18 months old. He suggested that their development is based on trust -vs- mistrust, meaning they base their growth off of fear and good feelings toward certain environmental factors. The following are the other 8 stages he proposed:

Stage 2

Ages 12-18 Months to 3 years old.

A toddlers development is based on Autonomy -vs- shame and doubt, meaning self-sufficiency and lack of independence play a large role in the development of the young child.

Stage 3

Ages 3 years to 5-6 years.

A young child’s development is shaped through initiative -vs- guilt, meaning learning right and wrong. An example would be having guilt from a certain action.

Stage 4

Ages 5-6 years to adolescence.

A older child’s development is based on Industry -vs- inferiority. This means that a child becomes who they are through a process of mastering certain aspects of life and being overcome by others (pride vs shame)

Stage 5

Adolescents to young adulthood.

Adolescents base their development off of Identity -vs- RoleDiffusion. If a teen does not have the ability to identify with a certain aspect of life, they will develop accordingly. This is where young people usually “find out who they are”.

Stage 6

Young Adulthood.

The concept of Intimacy -vs- Isolation shapes this age group of people. At this time in their lives people must make the decision to develop a lasting sexual relationship or to shun the idea of relationships with others (sometimes involuntarily depending on previous development).

Stage 7

Middle Adulthood.

Generativity -vs- Stagnation. One person must develop through this stage on the grounds that they believe their actions matter. An identity with contribution to others lives in crucial in this stage of development.

Stage 8

 Late Adulthood.

The final stage of development is based on how one looks back on their previous doing in life. Do they have a sense of accomplishment or are they full of regret? This is called “Ego-integrity -vs- Despair“.

Erikson’s 8 steps of Psychosocial development are widely accepted as a standard of development along human life. Although no single psychological approach is completely right or wrong, his is one of the most widely accepted.

sources cited:

Development Across the Lifespan by: Robert s. Feldman (2008)