Erik Erikson Psychosocial Development Activity

 
Erikson's Eight Stages of Development
Below are the eight stages of Psychosocial Development, as presented by Erik Erikson. Read each stage carefully to
complete parts I and II of the activity.
Part I – Summarize each stage in one to three sentences (your own words). You will not receive credit if you have the
same answers as a fellow student. (5 points each)

1. Trust Versus Mistrust (Hope)

This crisis occurs during the first one or two years of life.  The child, well – cared for, nurtured, and loved, develops trust
and security and a basic optimism.  Badly cared for, s/he becomes insecure and mistrustful. 
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2.  Autonomy Versus Shame (Will)

The second psychosocial crisis, Erikson believes, occurs during early childhood, probably between about 18 months or 2
years and 3½ to 4 years of age.  The "well - parented" child emerges from this stage sure of self, elated with his/her
new-found control, and proud rather than ashamed. 
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3.  Initiative Versus Guilt (Purpose)

Erikson believes that this third psychosocial crisis occurs during what he calls the "play age," or the later preschool years
(from about 3½ to, in the United States culture, entry into formal school).  During these years, the healthily-developing
child learns: (1) to imagine, to broaden skills through active play of all sorts, including fantasy (2) to cooperate with
others (3) to lead as well as to follow.  The negative outcome occurs when, immobilized by guilt, the child is: (1) fearful
(2) hangs on the fringes of groups (3) continues to depend unduly on adults and (4) and is restricted both in the
development of play skills and in imagination.
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4.  Industry Versus Inferiority (Competence/Self-Esteem)
Erikson believes that the fourth psychosocial crisis is handled, for better or worse, during what he calls the "school age,"
presumably up to and possibly including some of junior high school.  Here, the child learns to master the more formal
skills of life: (1) relating with peers according to rules (2) progressing from free play to play that may be elaborately
structured by rules and may demand formal teamwork, such as baseball and (3) mastering social studies, reading,
arithmetic.  Homework is a necessity, and the need for self-discipline increases yearly.  The child who, because of
successive and successful resolutions of earlier psychosocial crisis, is trusting, autonomous, and full of initiative will
learn easily enough to be industrious and emerge with a sense of competence and high self-esteem. However, the
mistrusting child will doubt the future and is likely to experience defeat and feelings of inferiority.
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5.  Identity Versus Identity Diffusion (Sense of Self )

During adolescence, from about 13 or 14 to about 20, the adolescent, learns how to answer satisfactorily and happily
the question of "Who am I?"  But even the best - adjusted of adolescents experience some role identity confusion: most
boys and probably most girls experiment with minor delinquency; rebellion flourishes; self - doubts flood the youngster,
and so on. Erikson believes that during successful early adolescence, mature time perspective is developed; the young
person acquires self-certainty as opposed to self-consciousness and self-doubt.  He comes to experiment with different -
usually constructive - roles rather than adopting a "negative identity" (such as delinquency).  He actually anticipates
achievement, and achieves, rather than being "paralyzed" by feelings of inferiority or by an inadequate time
perspective.  In later adolescence, clear sexual identity - manhood or womanhood - is established.  The adolescent seeks
leadership (someone to inspire him), and gradually develops a set of ideals (socially congruent and desirable, in the case
of the successful adolescent).  Erikson believes that, in our culture, adolescence affords a "psychosocial moratorium,"
particularly for middle - and upper-class American children.  They do not yet have to "play for keeps," but can
experiment, trying various roles, and thus hopefully find the one most suitable for them.
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6.  Intimacy Versus Isolation (Love)

The successful young adult, for the first time, can experience true intimacy - the sort of intimacy that makes possible
good marriage or a genuine and enduring friendship.
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7. Generativity Versus Self-Absorption (Care)
In adulthood, the psychosocial crisis demands generativity, both in the sense of marriage and parenthood, and in the
sense of working productively and creatively.
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8.  Integrity Versus Despair (Wisdom)
If the other seven psychosocial crisis have been successfully resolved, the mature adult develops the peak of
adjustment; integrity.  He trusts, he is independent and dares the new.  He works hard, has found a well - defined role in
life, and has developed a self-concept with which he is happy.  He can be intimate without strain, guilt, regret, or lack of
realism; and he is proud of what he creates - his children, his work, or his hobbies.  If one or more of the earlier
psychosocial crises have not been resolved, he may view himself and his life with disgust and despair.
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Part II – Use Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development to complete part II – 4 points each.
Each of the situations below represents a negative outcome of one of Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Stages. Determine
which psychosocial stage resulted in each set of behaviors described below; speculate as to what circumstances may
have resulted in the negative outcome; and describe what behaviors would be indicative of a positive outcome of that
same stage.
 
9) Jason is a 14-year-old seventh grader who moved to Saint Cloud this summer from another state. He has recently
been referred to the school psychologist because of concerns about both his academic performance and school
behavior. A review of his school records shows that Jason repeated kindergarten and third grade. His elementary school
grades were primarily  S's ("Satisfactory") and N's ("Needs Improvement"). His current teachers state that they are
unsure of Jason's academic skills because he typically does not turn in assignments and appears to "clown around" and
not take exams and assignments seriously.

Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________

Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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10) Brenda is a 5th-year undergraduate student at the College of Saint Benedict. She began her post-secondary
education at CSB as a nursing major, but decided she wanted to pursue a career in special education, so she transferred
to Saint Cloud State University. After a year at SCSU, she discovered that special education was not for her, so she
transferred back to CSB where she registered for courses in the Social Science-Secondary Education sequence. She is
now a Liberal Studies major, and will graduate in May. Brenda has thought about applying to law schools, but recently
decided she really didn't want a career in law. At this point she has no firm career plans. Rather, she had decided to
work as a waitress for at least a year, and after that, who knows?
Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________
Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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11) Carrie is a 36-year-old woman who is currently being seen for counseling at the community mental health center.
Her second marriage recently ended in divorce, and she has sought counseling so that she might "find" herself and get
her life "back on track." Carrie married for the first time at age 18, but she and her husband grew increasingly apart and
found they had little in common, other than their two children! She remarried shortly after her first divorce as she felt
"empty" being alone and thought both she and her children needed a man in the house, but that marriage also proved
unsuccessful. She is now thinking of attending college, and is trying to figure out what to do "with the rest of her life."
 
Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________
Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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12) Eric's kindergarten teacher is very concerned about him. He is hesitant to get involved in group activities, and
though he seems bright verbally, he tells his teacher he "can't" do the work and will not start assignments unless the
teacher is there to help and reassure him. Additionally, he always waits for the teacher to help him put on his coat and
boots, even though she has encouraged him to do so himself.
 
Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________
Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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13) Anna is currently enrolled in the "Special Needs Program for Children with Severe and Profound Developmental
Delays." She is four years old and has been diagnosed as suffering from a "Pervasive Developmental Disorder." Her
behavior is often "autistic-like" as she avoids eye contact, makes repetitive and bizarre hand movements, and her
speech is often echolalic. A review of her developmental history shows that her development was apparently "normal"
for the first six months of her life. It was at that time Anna's mother developed severe depression and spent a year in a
mental institution. During that year, Anna was left in the care of an aunt, who reportedly abused her both physically and
psychologically. It was after her mother was released from the hospital that Anna was first seen at the mental health
center and diagnosed as developmentally delayed.

Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________

Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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14) Joe is a college junior with a mediocre academic record. Though he is very intelligent, his teachers often describe
him as lacking in initiative and creativity. He does well in lecture classes, but is hesitant to participate in group
discussions and has difficulty coming up with ideas for independent learning projects. He is hesitant to take chances and
try new things, though he often would like to try them.

Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________

Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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15) Karl is a 78-year-old widower who lives in a senior-citizens apartment complex. Though he is reasonably healthy,
both physically and mentally, Karl rarely gets out and typically does not take part in activities offered through the local
senior citizens center. Rather, he mostly sits at home and broods. He rarely interacts with his neighbors in the
apartment complex, and even his children and grandchildren avoid visiting him because all he does is complain about
how bad his life has been.

Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________

Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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16) John is a 36-year-old divorced man whose ex-wife has custody of their three children. Though John has visitation
rights, he rarely exercises them. Even when the family lived together, he was only minimally involved with his children
as he was always "too busy." His job often required long hours and extended travel, but even when he was not working,
John found little time for his kids. However, he always seemed to find the time for golf outings, poker night, and hunting
and fishing trips with his buddies.  

Negative Outcome is:__________________________________________________________________________

Psychosocial Stage is:_________________________________________________________________________
Circumstances that resulted in the negative outcome are:______________________________________________
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Behaviors indicative of a positive outcome for that stage are: __________________________________________
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