Stages[edit]

Approximate Psychosocial Significant Existential

Virtues Examples[4]
Age crisis[3] relationship[4] question[5]

Infancy Basic trust vs. Can I trust the Feeding,

Hope Mother
0-1 years mistrust world? abandonment

Early Autonomy vs. Toilet training,

childhood Is it okay to be
Will shame and Parents clothing
me?
1–3 years doubt themselves

Preschool age Is it okay for me Exploring, using

Initiative vs.
Purpose Family to do, move, and tools or making
3–6 years guilt
act? art

Can I make it in
School age Industry vs. Neighbors, the world of
Competence School, sports
6–12 years inferiority school people and
things?

Adolescence Identity vs. role Peers, role Who am I? Who Social

Fidelity
13–19 years confusion model can I be? relationships

Early
adulthood Intimacy vs. Friends, Romantic
Love Can I love?
isolation partners relationships
20–39 years

Adulthood Generativity vs. Household, Can I make my Work,

Care
40–64 years stagnation workmates life count? parenthood

Maturity Ego integrity vs. Mankind, my Is it okay to have

Wisdom Reflection on life
65-death despair kind been me?
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, as articulated by Erik Erikson, in collaboration with Joan
Erikson,[1] is a comprehensive psychoanalytic theory that identifies a series of eight stages, in which a
healthy developing individual should pass through from infancy to late adulthood. All stages are present
at birth but only begin to unfold according to both a natural scheme and one's ecological and cultural
upbringing. In each stage, the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage
builds upon the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully
completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future.

However, mastery of a stage is not required to advance to the next stage. The outcome of one stage is
not permanent and can be modified by later experiences. Erikson's stage theory characterizes an
individual advancing through the eight life stages as a function of negotiating his or her biological forces
and sociocultural forces. Each stage is characterized by a psychosocial crisis of these two conflicting
forces (as shown in the table below). If an individual does indeed successfully reconcile these forces
(favoring the first mentioned attribute in the crisis), he or she emerges from the stage with the
corresponding virtue. For example, if an infant enters into the toddler stage (autonomy vs. shame and
doubt) with more trust than mistrust, he or she carries the virtue of hope into the remaining life
stages.[2]

Summary: An eight stage theory of identity and psychosocial development

Erik Erikson (1902 -1994), a German-born American psychoanalyst.
Key Terms: Erikson’s stages, psychosocial, development
Erikson’s Stages of Development
Erik Erikson, a German psychoanalyst heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud, explored three aspects of
identity: the ego identity (self), personal identity (the personal idiosyncrasies that distinguish a person
from another, social/cultural identity (the collection of social roles a person might play)[1].
Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development considers the impact of external factors, parents and
society on personality development from childhood to adulthood. According to Erikson’s theory, every
person must pass through a series of eight interrelated stages over the entire life cycle[2].
Infant (Hope) – Basic Trust vs. Mistrust
Toddler (Will) – Autonomy vs. Shame
Preschooler (Purpose) – Initiative vs. Guilt
School-Age Child (Competence) – Industry vs. Inferiority
Adolescent (Fidelity) – Identity vs. Identity Diffusion
Young Adult (Love) – Intimacy vs. Isolation
Middle-aged Adult (Care) – Generativity vs. Self-absorption
Older Adult (Wisdom) – Integrity vs. Despair
These eight stages, spanning from birth to death, are split in general age ranges.
1. Infancy: Birth-18 Months Old

Basic Trust vs. Mistrust – Hope

During the first or second year of life, the major emphasis is on the mother and father’s nurturing ability
and care for a child, especially in terms of visual contact and touch. The child will develop optimism,
trust, confidence, and security if properly cared for and handled. If a child does not experience trust, he
or she may develop insecurity, worthlessness, and general mistrust to the world.
2. Toddler / Early Childhood Years: 18 Months to 3 Years

Autonomy vs. Shame – Will

The second stage occurs between 18 months and 3 years. At this point, the child has an opportunity to
build self-esteem and autonomy as he or she learns new skills and right from wrong. The well-cared for
child is sure of himself, carrying himself or herself with pride rather than shame. During this time of the
“terrible twos”, defiance, temper tantrums, and stubbornness can also appear. Children tend to be
vulnerable during this stage, sometimes feeling shame and and low self-esteem during an inability to
learn certain skills.
3. Preschooler: 3 to 5 Years

Initiative vs. Guilt – Purpose

During this period we experience a desire to copy the adults around us and take initiative in creating
play situations. We make up stories with Barbie’s and Ken’s, toy phones and miniature cars, playing out
roles in a trial universe, experimenting with the blueprint for what we believe it means to be an adult.
We also begin to use that wonderful word for exploring the world—”WHY?”
While Erikson was influenced by Freud, he downplays biological sexuality in favor of the psychosocial
features of conflict between child and parents. Nevertheless, he said that at this stage we usually
become involved in the classic “Oedipal struggle” and resolve this struggle through “social role
identification.” If we’re frustrated over natural desires and goals, we may easily experience guilt.
The most significant relationship is with the basic family.
4. School Age Child: 6 to 12 Years

Industry vs. Inferiority – Competence

During this stage, often called the Latency, we are capable of learning, creating and accomplishing
numerous new skills and knowledge, thus developing a sense of industry. This is also a very social stage
of development and if we experience unresolved feelings of inadequacy and inferiority among our
peers, we can have serious problems in terms of competence and self-esteem.
As the world expands a bit, our most significant relationship is with the school and neighborhood.
Parents are no longer the complete authorities they once were, although they are still important.
5. Adolescent: 12 to 18 Years

Identity vs. Role Confusion – Fidelity

Up until this fifth stage, development depends on what is done to a person. At this point, development
now depends primarily upon what a person does. An adolescent must struggle to discover and find his
or her own identity, while negotiating and struggling with social interactions and “fitting in”, and
developing a sense of morality and right from wrong.
Some attempt to delay entrance to adulthood and withdraw from responsibilities (moratorium). Those
unsuccessful with this stage tend to experience role confusion and upheaval. Adolescents begin to
develop a strong affiliation and devotion to ideals, causes, and friends.
6. Young adult: 18 to 35
Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation – Love

At the young adult stage, people tend to seek companions hip and love. Some also begin to “settle
down” and start families, although seems to have been pushed back farther in recent years.
Young adults seek deep intimacy and satisfying relationships, but if unsuccessful, isolation may
occur. Significant relationships at this stage are with marital partners and friends.
7. Middle-aged Adult: 35 to 55 or 65

Generativity vs. Self absorption or Stagnation – Care

Career and work are the most important things at this stage, along with family. Middle adulthood is also
the time when people can take on greater responsibilities and control.
For this stage, working to establish stability and Erikson’s idea ofgenerativity – attempting to produce
something that makes a difference to society. Inactivity and meaninglessness are common fears during
this stage.
Major life shifts can occur during this stage. For example, children leave the household, careers can
change, and so on. Some may struggle with finding purpose. Significant relationships are those within
the family, workplace, local church and other communities.
8. Late Adult: 55 or 65 to Death

Integrity vs. Despair – Wisdom

Erikson believed that much of life is preparing for the middle adulthood stage and the last stage involves
much reflection. As older adults, some can look back with a feeling of integrity — that is, contentment
and fulfillment, having led a meaningful life and valuable contribution to society. Others may have a
sense of despair during this stage, reflecting upon their experiences and failures. They may fear death as
they struggle to find a purpose to their lives, wondering “What was the point of life? Was it worth it?”