Erikson was a psychoanalyst who developed a theory of psychosocial development. His theory expanded on the ideas that Freud developed on psychosexual development.
Oral-Sensory: Birth – 18 months Basic conflict: Trust vs. Mistrust Important event: Feeding Most significant relationship: Maternal parent or primary caregiver The infant’s task is to form a loving, trusting relationship with his or her primary caregiver. This happens by the caregiver providing a loving presence and meeting the infant’s needs, including visual contact and touch. If this does not occur, there is a sense of mistrust because the infant’s needs are not met. This can result in a deep mistrust of the world in general. The infant does not feel that the world is a safe place or that people will meet his or her needs.
Muscular-Anal: 18 months – 3 years Basic conflict: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt Important event: Toilet training Most significant relationship: Parents The child is focused on developing his or her physical skills. These include talking, walking, grasping, and control over going to the bathroom. When a child learns to do these things successfully, there is a sense of autonomy which builds self-esteem. The child is also developing his or her will during this stage (for example, using the word: No!). The child is vulnerable to shame at this age. If he or she is made to feel bad when attempts at autonomy fail, this can result in shame and doubting his or her abilities. This can then lead to a sense of poor self-esteem and reluctance to try new things.
Locomotor: 3 – 6 years Basic conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt Important event: Independence Most significant relationship: Family The child is continuing to grow in independence and assertiveness. He or she is exploring the world and asking “Why?” During this stage Erikson says the child can become involved in the Oedipal conflict, which is resolved through “social role identification.” If the child becomes frustrated in her or her desires and goals at independence, her or she may feel a sense of guilt.
Latency: 6 – 12 years Basic conflict: Industry vs. Inferiority Important event: School Most significant relationship: School and neighborhood As the child attends school, he or she must learn new skills and be successful at them. The child also must learn new social skills at this time in order to have relationships with peers and teachers. When this happens successfully, the child has a sense of industry and a drive towards productivity. When the child is unable to keep up in school, or forge relationships with peers, feelings of inferiority arise.
Adolescence: 12 – 18 years Basic conflict: Identity vs. Role Confusion Important event: Peer relationships Most significant relationship: Peer group During this stage the teenager develops a sense of identity. He or she is individuating from parents, discovering his or her own beliefs, and identifying where he or she fits in to the world. If successful, the teenager can move forward and create plans for career and life with the role they believe they will play. If not successful during this stage, the teenager experiences role confusion, not knowing where he or she fits in to the world.
Young Adulthood: 19 – 40 years Basic conflict: Intimacy vs. Isolation Important event: Love relationships Most significant relationship: Marital partners and friends During this stage the young adult seeks out companionship and love. As people settle in to committed relationships, they may also start families. When this stage is navigated successfully, the adult develops intimacy with her or her romantic partner as well as close friends. For adults who are unable to successfully navigate this stage, feelings of isolation and loneliness can occur.
Middle Adulthood: 40 – 65 years Basic conflict: Generativity vs. Stagnation Important event: Parenting Most significant relationship: Family, workplace, and community Work and family are the primary focuses of this stage. The primary task of the middle adult is to work to support the family as well as transmit culture and values to the next generation. The middle adult wants to contribute to society in a meaningful way, which is generativity. As children leave home and relationships change, there can be a struggle to identify new ways of creating meaning and purpose. If this does not occur, the middle adult can become stagnant and unproductive.
Maturity: 65 – Death Basic conflict: Integrity vs. Despair Important event: Reflection on and acceptance of one’s life Most significant relationship: All of mankind The older adult looks book on his or her life and needs to have a sense of contentment with how he or she has lived. It is important to feel that we have contributed to the world in some way, which Erikson says is a feeling of integrity. In this stage the older adult accepts that death is the completion of life. If the older adult feels that they have failed or not experienced what they wanted to, it can lead to feelings of despair, fear of death, and a struggle to find purpose.
Disregard
ReplyDeleteErik Erikson’s Developmental Stages
ReplyDeleteErikson was a psychoanalyst who developed a theory of psychosocial development. His theory expanded on the ideas that Freud developed on psychosexual development.
Oral-Sensory: Birth – 18 months
Basic conflict: Trust vs. Mistrust
Important event: Feeding
Most significant relationship: Maternal parent or primary caregiver
The infant’s task is to form a loving, trusting relationship with his or her primary caregiver. This happens by the caregiver providing a loving presence and meeting the infant’s needs, including visual contact and touch. If this does not occur, there is a sense of mistrust because the infant’s needs are not met. This can result in a deep mistrust of the world in general. The infant does not feel that the world is a safe place or that people will meet his or her needs.
Muscular-Anal: 18 months – 3 years
Basic conflict: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt
Important event: Toilet training
Most significant relationship: Parents
The child is focused on developing his or her physical skills. These include talking, walking, grasping, and control over going to the bathroom. When a child learns to do these things successfully, there is a sense of autonomy which builds self-esteem. The child is also developing his or her will during this stage (for example, using the word: No!). The child is vulnerable to shame at this age. If he or she is made to feel bad when attempts at autonomy fail, this can result in shame and doubting his or her abilities. This can then lead to a sense of poor self-esteem and reluctance to try new things.
Locomotor: 3 – 6 years
Basic conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt
Important event: Independence
Most significant relationship: Family
The child is continuing to grow in independence and assertiveness. He or she is exploring the world and asking “Why?” During this stage Erikson says the child can become involved in the Oedipal conflict, which is resolved through “social role identification.” If the child becomes frustrated in her or her desires and goals at independence, her or she may feel a sense of guilt.
Latency: 6 – 12 years
Basic conflict: Industry vs. Inferiority
Important event: School
Most significant relationship: School and neighborhood
As the child attends school, he or she must learn new skills and be successful at them. The child also must learn new social skills at this time in order to have relationships with peers and teachers. When this happens successfully, the child has a sense of industry and a drive towards productivity. When the child is unable to keep up in school, or forge relationships with peers, feelings of inferiority arise.
Adolescence: 12 – 18 years
ReplyDeleteBasic conflict: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Important event: Peer relationships
Most significant relationship: Peer group
During this stage the teenager develops a sense of identity. He or she is individuating from parents, discovering his or her own beliefs, and identifying where he or she fits in to the world. If successful, the teenager can move forward and create plans for career and life with the role they believe they will play. If not successful during this stage, the teenager experiences role confusion, not knowing where he or she fits in to the world.
Young Adulthood: 19 – 40 years
Basic conflict: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Important event: Love relationships
Most significant relationship: Marital partners and friends
During this stage the young adult seeks out companionship and love. As people settle in to committed relationships, they may also start families. When this stage is navigated successfully, the adult develops intimacy with her or her romantic partner as well as close friends. For adults who are unable to successfully navigate this stage, feelings of isolation and loneliness can occur.
Middle Adulthood: 40 – 65 years
Basic conflict: Generativity vs. Stagnation
Important event: Parenting
Most significant relationship: Family, workplace, and community
Work and family are the primary focuses of this stage. The primary task of the middle adult is to work to support the family as well as transmit culture and values to the next generation. The middle adult wants to contribute to society in a meaningful way, which is generativity. As children leave home and relationships change, there can be a struggle to identify new ways of creating meaning and purpose. If this does not occur, the middle adult can become stagnant and unproductive.
Maturity: 65 – Death
Basic conflict: Integrity vs. Despair
Important event: Reflection on and acceptance of one’s life
Most significant relationship: All of mankind
The older adult looks book on his or her life and needs to have a sense of contentment with how he or she has lived. It is important to feel that we have contributed to the world in some way, which Erikson says is a feeling of integrity. In this stage the older adult accepts that death is the completion of life. If the older adult feels that they have failed or not experienced what they wanted to, it can lead to feelings of despair, fear of death, and a struggle to find purpose.