Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development



Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development

|Approximate Age |Developmental Task + Description |Other Information |

| |Trust v. Mistrust |Torn between trusting & mistrusting parents |

| | |If needs are met, will develop a sense of basic trust |

|Infancy |Babies learn to trust or mistrust others based on whether |If needs are not met, may become suspicious, fearful & overly concerned |

| |or not their needs – such as food and comfort – are met. |about security |

|(0-1) | | |

| | | |

| |Autonomy v. Shame & Doubt |Begin to have greater contact with surroundings |

| | |Learn to hold things, manipulate objects & control bodily functions |

|Toddler |Toddlers realize that they can direct their own behavior. |Failure to do so may lead to self-doubt and shame |

| | | |

|(1-2) | | |

| | | |

|Preschooler | |Learn to initiate tasks & execute plans |

|(3-5) |Initiative v. Guilt |Parental support for these initiatives can lead to a sense of joy |

| | |Failure to acquire a sense of initiative may lead to strong feelings of |

| |Preschoolers are challenged to control their own behavior, |guilt, unworthiness and resentment |

| |such as controlling their exuberance when they are in a | |

| |restaurant. | |

|Elementary |Industry v. Inferiority |Children encounter a new set of expectations & skills (home & school) |

|(6-puberty) | |Failure to meet these expectations may lead the child to conclude that |

| |School-aged children are faced with learning new social & |they are inadequate or mediocre |

| |academic skills. Social comparison is a primary source of | |

| |information. | |

|Adolescence |Identity v. Role Confusion |Childhood ends, adulthood begins; must forge an identity |

|(teens-early 20s) | |Failure to forge an identity may lead to role confusion & despair |

| |Adolescents are faced with deciding who or what they want | |

| |to be in terms of occupation, beliefs, attitudes and | |

| |behavioral patterns. | |

| |Intimacy v. Isolation |Men & women must learn to be intimate (emotionally and physically) with |

|Young Adulthood | |another adult |

|(mid 20s-30s) |The task facing those in early young adulthood is to be |(Must have resolved earlier developmental issues to become intimate) |

| |able to share who they are with another person in a close, |Failure to do so may lead to a painful sense of loneliness and isolation |

| |committed relationship. | |

|Middle Adulthood |Generativity v. Stagnation |Must remain productive & creative in all aspects of one’s life |

|(40s-50s) | |People who have successfully negotiated the previous stages are likely to |

| |The challenge is to be creative, productive and nurturing |find meaning & joy in all aspects of their lives |

| |to the next generation | |

|Late Adulthood | |Must come to terms with the approach of death |

|(60s+) |Ego Integrity v. Despair |People who have gained full maturity by resolving earlier stages possess |

| | |the integrity to face death with minimum fear |

| |The issue is whether a person will reach wisdom, spiritual | |

| |tranquility, a sense of wholeness, and acceptance of his or| |

| |her life. | |

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