Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development PDF

Erik Homburger Erikson (1902-1994) A Search for Identity  Erik Erikson: Introduction Like Adler, provided some commonly used terms – “Identity Crisis” Trained by ANNA Freud Diverged somewhat from Freud – Development covers the lifespan – Emphasized ego more than id – Int...

Erik Homburger Erikson (1902-1994) A Search for Identity  Erik Erikson: Introduction Like Adler, provided some commonly used terms – “Identity Crisis” Trained by ANNA Freud Diverged somewhat from Freud – Development covers the lifespan – Emphasized ego more than id – Introduced impact of culture on individual  Erikson: History... Several “identity crises” – Abandoned by father Mother married pediatrician three years later Told about this MUCH later; changed name at 37 – School age, he was rejected because of Jewish heritage but Danish look (blond, blue-eyed) Later, converted to Christianity – Did poorly in school Except in art class! Taught art to Freud’s patients in 1927 (25 years old) Studied psychoanalysis of children 1933, joined Psychoanalytic Institute  Erikson: History... Several “identity crises” – Met Canadian woman and immigrated to Boston Treated children at Harvard and Massachusetts Hospital – Failed first course at Harvard – Failed course at Yale – Traveled to CA to work with Sioux and Yurok Indians “Identity Confusion”... Sense of “uprootedness” – Ultimately, was a professor at University of California at Berkeley – Went back to MA at retirement in 1970 Performed Psychobiographies Dr. D’s Guide to the Importance of Erikson! Erikson incorporated culture into personality development – Answers questions about identity issues between cultures Development lasts a lifetime – Thank goodness!!!!!!!  Developmental Stages Universal – All people encounter them But culture organizes the experience of its members Cultures not only provide the setting in which crises are encountered but provide continuing support for the ego development that has occurred – Especially when threatened in later life  Psychosocial Stages Psychosocial refers to union of Freud’s physical yearnings (id) and cultural forces Epigenetic Principle – describes the process of development – Emerging one on top of another over time Resolution depends on the positive to negative ratio – Positive outcomes yield “virtues”  Crises Rise to the surface when the environment makes demands of us: Called a crisis – Involves a shift in perspective  new strengths can develop – Can choose adaptive or maladaptive solutions More adaptive responses lead to “virtues” Passage is not automatic, and environment can help or hinder our progress – Ritualizations help resolve a conflict E.g., social opportunities to support growth – Ritualisms don’t: They are too rigid E.g., elitism Trust vs. Infancy Oral Maternal Religion / Hope Mistrust Caregiver Faith Autonomy Early Anal Parents Law Willpower vs. Shame Childhood 2-3 Initiative Play Age Phallic Family Ideal Purpose vs.Guilt 3-4 Prototypes Industry vs. School Age Latency School Technology Competence Inferiority Identity vs. Adolescence Genital Peers Ideological Fidelity Confusion Worldview Intimacy vs. Young Genital Friends, Sex Patterns of Love Alienation Adulthood Competition coop, comp Generativity Adulthood Genital Shared Education Care vs. Self- Household and Absorption Tradition Integrity vs. Old Age Genital Mankind Wisdom Wisdom Despair  Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust Basic trust: The sense that others are dependable and will provide what is needed – Food, milk, and sensory stimulation Otherwise, basic mistrust is formed – Some sense of mistrust is inevitable, as no parent can provide exactly what is needed exactly when it is needed! (Trust me)  Stage 2: Autonomy versus Shame/Doubt Child becomes adequate (autonomous) in: – Toilet training (emphasized by Freud) – Ambulation – Interpersonal relationships Otherwise, there is shame in Self – Some degree of Shame is necessary and good, but a high degree of autonomy should prevail  Stage 3: Initiative versus Guilt The child begins determining what type of person they are going to be, as they begin to interact more with others (“intruding others’ space”) Child develops a conscience (Freudian) If the child is supported and acts appropriately, they will have more initiative than guilt  Stage 4: Industry versus Inferiority The child “learns to win recognition by producing things.” – If the child perseveres and creates good, quality objects, they will become industrious – If not, this leads to a feeling of inferiority  Stage 5: Identity versus Identity Confusion In adolescence, the task is to answer the question, “Who am I?” – Must be agreed upon by individual and society Identity confusion occurs when a coherent identity cannot be established A negative identity may also be established – Based on social norms A moratorium may be established – Adolescents are encouraged to explore possibilities (e.g., change majors, etc.) Fidelity: Sustaining loyalties despite possible aversive consequences  Stage 6: Intimacy versus Isolation Cannot occur until identity has been established! Intimacy is the fusion or merging of identities with a friend or lover – One’s own identity is not threatened, however NOT the same as sexual intimacy RESEARCH: Intimacy increases during early adulthood (Reis et al., 1993)  Stage 7: Generativity versus Stagnation Generativity is the interest in guiding the next generation – Highly involved in their work and the growth of young people – Concerned about broad social issues – Are able to strike a balance between self-serving and societal-serving needs – E.g., parenting, teaching, mentoring Alternative is stagnation Stage 8: Integrity versus Despair Integrity – Being able to look back and say that one’s life was meaningful and valuable – Not wishing that things had been different The alternative is despair  Research Cross-cultural differences in psychosocial stages – McClain (1975): South African blacks scored lower on identity development than whites To Erikson, an indication of ritualism – namely, racism  Research Male and Female identities – Differences Women emphasize interpersonal issues Men emphasize occupational issues – Similarities Men and women do not differ in their level of achieved identity – It appears that, while the result is the same, the process is different  Erikson Contributions – Role of culture and lifelong development, as previously discussed – Identity is dynamic! Limitations – Some descriptions are somewhat ambiguous Willpower Wisdom Erikson: Differences from Freud De-emphasized the importance of unconsciousness – Focused on psychosocial stages Decreased role of sexual stages “Fixation” does not cause “stagnation,” generally speaking – But identity must be established for intimacy to occur