Erikson's Psychosocial Development Stages

Psychosocial Stages

• Erikson's theory proposes 8 stages of psychosocial development, each with a unique crisis or conflict that must be resolved
• Each stage builds upon the previous one and lays the foundation for the next
• The stages are:
  1. Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 year)
  2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3 years)
  3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years)
  4. Industry vs. Inferiority (6-12 years)
  5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (12-18 years)
  6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (18-40 years)
  7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (40-65 years)
  8. Integrity vs. Despair (65+ years)

Identity Crisis

• A critical component of Erikson's theory, referring to the crisis of identity vs. role confusion in stage 5
• During this stage, adolescents explore different identities and roles, seeking to establish a sense of self
• Successful resolution of the crisis leads to a strong sense of ego identity, while unsuccessful resolution can result in role confusion and identity diffusion

Ego Identity

• The result of successfully resolving the identity crisis, characterized by a sense of sameness and continuity
• A clear and stable sense of self, with a sense of direction and purpose
• Ego identity is the culmination of the psychosocial stages, providing a foundation for future development

Life Cycle Theory

• Erikson's theory is often referred to as a life cycle theory, as it spans the entire lifespan
• Each stage builds upon the previous one, with earlier stages laying the foundation for later development
• The theory recognizes that development is a lifelong process, with each stage presenting new challenges and opportunities for growth