Erikson's Theory

ERIK ERIKSONS
PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
Psychosocial Development
Psychosocial psychological (or the
root, psycho relating to the mind,
brain, personality, etc.) & social
(external relationships and
environment)
Eriksons theory was greatly
influenced by Sigmund Freud
One of the main elements of Erikson's

psychosocial stage theory is the development
ofego identity. Ego identity is the conscious
sense of self that we develop through social
interaction. According to Erikson, our ego identity
is constantly changing due to new experiences
and information we acquire in our daily
interactions with others.
Shows impact of social experiences across ones
whole lifespan.
There are eight stages over a lifespan showing
the development.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
MALADAPTATION- develop from tending towards
the extreme of the first ('positive') disposition in
each crisis
MALIGNANCY- develop from tending towards the
extreme of the second ('negative') disposition in
each crisis.
VIRTUES- are characteristic strengths which the
ego can use to resolve subsequent crises.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT
1ST STAGE
Age: infancy (birth to 18 months)
Crisis: TRUST vs. MISTRUST
Maladaptation: sensory maladjustment
Malignancy: withdrawal
Virtue: Hope
Major Question:"Can I trust the people
around me?"
GOAL: to develop trust without completely

eliminating the capacity for mistrust
Developing trust is the first task of the ego,
and it is never complete.
TRUST Firm belief in reliability, truth, ability,
or strength of someone or something.
MISTRUST State of being suspicious; lack of
trust
SENSORY MALADJUSTMENT Overly trusting
WITHDRAWAL Characterized by depression,
paranoia & psychosis
HOPE strong belief that when things

are not going well, they will work out
well in the end.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT
2nd STAGE
AGE: early childhood (18MOS- 3YRS)
Crisis: AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & DOUBT
Maladaptation: Impulsive
Malignancy: compulsive
Virtue: will or determination
Major Question: "Can I do things myself or
am I reliant on the help of others?"
GOAL: to achieve autonomy while minimizing

shame and doubt.
AUTONOMY Independence
SHAME A painful feeling of humiliation or
distress caused by the consciousness of wrong
or foolish behavior.
DOUBT Feeling of uncertainty or lack of
conviction
IMPULSIVENESS Sort of shameless
willfulness that leads you in later childhood and
even adulthood, to jump into things without
proper consideration of your abilities.
COMPULSIVENESS A person feels as if their

entire being rides on everything they do, and so
everything, must be done perfectly
WILL POWER Controlling deliberately exerted
to do something or to restrain ones own
impulses.
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

3rd
STAGE
AGE: pre- school (3-5yrs)

Crisis: INITIATIVE vs. GUILT
Maladaptation: Ruthlessness
Malignancy: Inhibition
Virtue: Purpose
Major Question: Am I good or bad?
GOAL: to learn initiative without too much

guilt.
INITIATIVE a positive response to the worlds
challenges, taking on responsibilities, learning
new skills, feeling purposeful.
GUILT the attempt to make that non-reality
a reality.
RUTHLESNESS to be heartless or unfeeling or
be without mercy.
INHIBITION too much guilt.
COURAGE the capacity for action

despite a clear understanding of your
limitations and past failings

4th
STAGE
AGE: school age (5-12yrs)

Crisis: INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY
Maladaptation: Virtuosity
Malignancy: Inertia
Virtue: Competence
Major Question: how can I be good?
They must learn the feeling of success,

whether it is in school or on the playground,
academic, or social.
INFERIORITY Competence
Just a touch of inferiority keeps us sensible
and humble.
Virtuosity- not allowed to be children and
pushed to competence without allowing
development of broad interest; kids without a
life
Inertia- inferiority complexes

5th STAGE
AGE: Adolescence (12-18yrs)
Crisis: IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSION
Maladaptation: Fanaticism
Malignancy: Repudation
Virtue: Fidelity
Major Question: who am I?
EGO IDENTITY knowing who you are and how

you fit in to the rest of the society.
ROLE CONFUSION uncertainty about ones
place in society and the world
psychosocial moratorium take time out
FANATICISM- believes his way is the only way
REPUDATION- state of rejection
FIDELITY- means loyalty, the ability to live by
societies standards despite their imperfections
and incompleteness and inconsistencies

6th STAGE
AGE: young adulthood (18-30yrs)
Crisis: INTIMACY vs. ISOLATION
Maladaptation: Promiscuity
Malignancy: Exclusion
Virtue: Love
Major Question: will I be loved? or will I be
alone
GOAL: to achieve some degree of intimacy, as opposed

remaining in isolation
INTIMACY ability to be close to others, as a lover, a
friend, and as a particular participant in society.
Fear of commitment an example of immaturity
PROMISCUITY The tendency to become intimate too
freely, too easy, and without any depth to your
intimacy.
EXCLUSION The tendency to isolate oneself from
love, friendship and community, and to develop a
certain hatefulness in compensation for ones
loneliness.
LOVE Being able to put aside

differences and antagonisms through
mutuality of devotion.

7th STAGE
AGE: middle adulthood (mid 20s- late 50s)
Crisis: GENERATIVITY vs. STAGNATION
Maladaptation: Over extension
Malignancy: Rejectivity
Virtue: Competence
Major Question: how can I contribute to the
world
GENERATIVITY an extension of love into the

future.
STAGNATION self absorption, caring for no
one.
The stagnant person STOPS to be a
reproductive member of the society.
OVEREXTENSION Some people try to be
generative that they no longer allow time for
themselves, for rest and relaxation.
REJECTIVITY Too little generativity and too
much stagnation and you are no longer
participating in or contributing to society.

8th STAGE
AGE: late adulthood (around 60yrs)
Crisis: INTEGRITY vs. DESPAIR
Maladaptation: Presumption
Malignancy: Disdain
Virtue: Wisdom
Major Question: did I live a meaningful life?
INTEGRITY Coming to terms with your life,

and thereby coming to terms with the end of
life.
DESPAIR The complete loss or absence of
hope.
PRESUMPTION Happens when a person
presumes ego integrity without actually
facing the difficulties of old age.
DISDAIN A contempt of life, ones own, or
anyone.
WISDOM Someone who approaches death
without fear.
THANK YOU!!!

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ERIK ERIKSONS

One of the main elements of Erikson's

Shows impact of social experiences across ones

GOAL: to develop trust without completely

HOPE strong belief that when things

GOAL: to achieve autonomy while minimizing

COMPULSIVENESS A person feels as if their

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

AGE: pre- school (3-5yrs)

GOAL: to learn initiative without too much

COURAGE the capacity for action

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

AGE: school age (5-12yrs)

They must learn the feeling of success,

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

EGO IDENTITY knowing who you are and how

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

GOAL: to achieve some degree of intimacy, as opposed

LOVE Being able to put aside

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

GENERATIVITY an extension of love into the

PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

INTEGRITY Coming to terms with your life,

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