ERIKSONS PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORYP.SAGUINDANFLCD 101M.AZUPARDO

I. BiographyErik Erikson was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1902. Erikson never knew his own father; he was raised by his mother and stepfather, who married in 1905. He struggled with his identity throughout his youth as he felt his stepfather never fully accepted him as he did his own daughters. Erikson grew up using his stepfathers surname; he eventually adopted the name Erikson in 1939.

II. Psychosocial Stages

1. BASIC TRUST VS. BASIC MISTRUST An infant in this stage is faced with a crisis similar to Freud's oral stage. He or she depends on others to get needs met. If this is accomplished the child developes a sense of trust which carries on. If this crisis is not resolved, may carry a sense of mistrust and fear into adult life relationships. Basic mistrust, if strong enough, may even induce a psychotic break. The person doesn't trust the reality systems of other people.

2. AUTONOMY VS. SHAME AND DOUBTThe child becomes mobile with his or her world. Being aboe to move about helps develop a sense of independence (autonomy) if encouraged and there is a consistency from the adult. A child faces failures and inconsistencies feels shame and doubts his or her self worth. Severe toilet training attempts before the child is capable of self control can lead to this outcome, as can unwinnable power struggles with adults. (Adults getting sucked into these power struggles result in the "terrible twos.)

3. INITIATIVE VS. GUILT The child is at a stage comparable to Freud's phallic stage. He inquinsitively explores his or her environment trying new things. If parents reinforce this sense of independence and investigation, the child develops initiative. When the parent is restrictive, the child develops a sense of guilt.

4. INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY The child starting school is faced with a new social role and of getting approval from others by being able to perform certain tasks. A child not developing these skills and feeling accepted on the basis of competent performance will develop a sense of inferiority. The same applies to household tasks, or tasks learned outside schools in tribal cultures.

5. IDENTITY VS. IDENTITY CONFUSION Freud called this the genital stage. The person strives to find identity and place in the world sexually and socially. Trying to find out what to do with their life. During this stage if past experiences are integrated, and past crises resolved, there will be a strong ego identity. When ego is not strong, there is identity confusion.

6. INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION Central focus is need for intimacy. Trouble in this stage is being unable to relate intimately to others. The person may develop a feeling of isolation, feeling alone in the world and with no one to depend on.

7. GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATIONIn midlife the need for intimacy is not enough and there is a need to generate oneself in some way. The ability to look outside onself at the world, contribute to it, and in so doing, be happy. The person not able to generate themself in some way becomes self-absorbed, self-centered, and feels a sense of stagnation, asking, "What have I done with my life?"

8. EGO INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR If the person has developed a sense of unity within himself or herself there will be ego integrity making old age a happy time. Erikson felt that if you had previous unresolved stages and felt your life full of disappointments and failure, you may experience despair, regret, and hopelessness in later years, being unable to face life at this age.