Erikson Eight Stages of Development Birth 2 years

Erikson Eight Stages of Development

Birth - 2 years • Trust – Trust: infant is totally dependent on others - learns to trust others • Mistrust – Mistrust: learns to distrust them

Trust v. Mistrust • Associated with Freud’s Oral Stage • Trust in others and themselves being trustworthy • Caretakers must comfort in times of stress in order to create a basis of trust • CRITICAL PERIOD – if unable to develop a sense of trust at this point then may be difficult to develop later

2 – 3 years • Autonomy – child tries to become a separate individual • Shame – if not allowed, feels shame

Autonomy v. Shame • Associated with Freud’s Anal Stage • Discovery of self-independence & selfrecognition • “Terrible 2’s” – necessary part of development • If not learned that a child can say no then shame and doubt of self will occur • Give children choices in basic decisions

3 – 5 years • Initiative – child tries to take control of environment • Guilt – if not allowed, child feels guilty for having failed

Initiative v. Guilt • Associated with Freud’s Phallic Stage • Discovery of independent behavior • Want to dress themselves and do things themselves • Parents must allow children to do things by themselves or guilt may occur

6 – 12 years • Industry – child wants to do more and better things - to be industrious • Inferiority – if child does not do better, child feels inferior

Industry v Inferiority • Develop sense of industry (working hard and persistently on valuable tasks) • Not giving up and succeeding, etc. is a good thing • But, if they fail from the beginning then inferiority sets in • Industry is learning how to persist in the face of challenge

13 – 18 years • Identity – adolescent searches for role or identity in life • Identity Confusion – feels confusion if no role is found

Identity v Identity Confusion • In adolescence a “true” identity is developed separate from self and parents • A way of separation from parents is rebelling • Another way is over-identifying with peers • Both are normal with clothes, music, etc

18 – 30 years • Intimacy – young adult shares special or intimate feelings with one special person • Isolation – without the sharing, loneliness and isolation prevails

Intimacy v Isolation • Beginning adult stage at about 20 years old • Not specifically physical intimacy but psychological intimacy

Middle Adulthood • Generativity – adult feels need to generate or contribute something important to the world • Stagnation – if nothing important is contributed, the adult deteriorates or stagnates

Generativity v Stagnation • A willingness to care for others, i. e. children • It can be in any aspect of life

Late Adulthood • Ego Integrity – person looks to past and feels a sense of accomplishment or integrity • Ego Despair – person looks back and feels no sense of accomplishment and feels empty and despairing

Ego Integrity v Ego Despair • Looking back on your life and accept what you have done as a good thing • Accept your own mortality • If unhappy with life then despair sets in