Psychosocial Theory 1

PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY OF HUMAN and insecurity. Successful resolution leads to the virtue
DEVELOPMENT of hope.

 Erik Erikson was influenced by Freud‟s Autonomy Versus Shame And Doubt 2-3 Years
topography of the personality but while Freud The child is more mobile and begins to assert
focused on the Id, Erikson focused more on the independence e.g. by walking away from the mother,
Ego. choosing which toys to play with, etc. The child gains
 Erikson wanted a different perspective from control over their actions including toileting. This
Freud‟s psychosexual perspective. stage coincides with toilet training. The crisis is
 Erik Erikson emphasized the role of culture and whether the child becomes independent/ autonomous
society and the conflicts that take place within the of the parents or develops shame and doubt.
Ego itself whereas Freud emphasized conflicts
between the Id and Superego. Parents should encourage the child to become
 Like Freud, Erikson noted that development more independent and protect him from constant
follows a predetermined order. failure. Parents must balance; not do everything for the
 He added three more stages to Freud‟s five child while also not criticizing the child for failures or
arguing that there is room for more development accidents especially around toilet training. The aim is
well into adulthood. for the child to learn self control without the loss of
 According to Erikson, development occurs in eight self esteem. Success at this stage leads to the virtue of
stages each of which is marked by a crisis that will.
needs to be resolved before the individual can
proceed to the next stage. If the child is encouraged and supported in his
 Erikson uses the term „crisis‟ in a medical sense increased independence, he becomes more confident
i.e. it is a critical point from which one can take a and secure. If criticized, overly controlled and denied
turn for the better or for the worse. He added that opportunity to assert himself , he may become
at any stage, development occurs on three fronts inadequate, dependent on others, lack self esteem and
simultaneously; biological, social and feel sense of shame and doubt
psychological. Erikson‟s theory is more focused
on the development of self identity which is
reliant upon interaction with the social world. Initiative Versus Guilt 4-5 Years
 Successful completion of a stage results in a Now that the child has gained control over
healthy personality and successful interaction with himself, he begins to control his surroundings. He no
others. A stage can be resolved at a later time. longer reacts, he now initiates. The child becomes
Erikson put a lot of emphasis on adolescence since more assertive and begins to initiate activities with
it is critical for the development of one‟s identity. others, plan games etc. if supported, the child develops
a sense of initiative and feels secure in his ability to
Stages of Psychosocial Development lead others and make decisions. If criticized or over
controlled, the child develops a sense of guilt and may
Basic Trust Versus Mistrust 0-1 Year and may feel like a nuisance to others and remain
The child is overwhelmingly dependent on the followers rather than take initiative. Parents may try to
caregiver. This dependence leads the child to his first stop the child to protect him and may even punish him
psychosocial crisis i.e. trust versus mistrust. for his aggressiveness.
Resolution of this stage leads to formation of trust or The child begins asking many questions as his
mistrust. The child learns that some people can be curiosity grows. If the parents dismiss the child‟s
trusted and some people can not. questions, he might see himself as a nuisance. If a
child is made to feel inadequate, he develops a sense
If the child gets consistent, predictable and of guilt. Some guilt is important for the child to
reliable care then he develops a sense of trust which he acquire a sense of self control. Success at this stage
carries on with him into other stages in life. If care is will lead to the virtue of purpose.
inconsistent, unpredictable and unreliable, the child
develops a sense of mistrust which he will carry into Industry Versus Inferiority 6-11 Years
other relationships. This may lead to a sense of anxiety Children are at the stage where they will be
learning to read and write, to do sums, to make things
 Psychosocial Theory 2
on their own. Teachers begin to take an important role
in the child‟s life as they teach the child specific During this period, they explore possibilities
skills. It is at this stage that the child‟s peer group will and begin to form their own identity based upon the
gain greater significance and will become a major outcome of their explorations. This sense of who they
source of the child‟s self esteem. The child now feels are can be hindered, which results in a sense of
the need to win approval by demonstrating specific confusion ("I don‟t know what I want to be when I
competences that are valued by society, and begin to grow up") about themselves and their role in the
develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments. world.

If children are encouraged and reinforced for Intimacy Versus Isolation 18-35 Years
their initiative, they begin to feel industrious and feel Occurring in Young adulthood, we begin to
confident in their ability to achieve goals. If this share ourselves more intimately with others. Coming
initiative is not encouraged, if it is restricted by parents from the previous stage, one who developed a sense of
or teachers, then the child begins to feel inferior, identity asks himself whether he is ready to share
doubting his own abilities and therefore may not reach himself with another person. Without a proper sense of
his potential. identity, its hard to share oneself with others because
of underlying insecurities.
If the child cannot develop the specific skill
they feel society is demanding then they may develop We explore relationships leading toward
a sense of inferiority. Some failure may be necessary longer term commitments with someone other than a
so that the child can develop some modesty. Yet again, family member. Successful completion can lead to
a balance between competence and modesty is comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment,
necessary. Success in this stage will lead to the virtue safety, and care within a relationship. Avoiding
of competence. intimacy, fearing commitment and relationships can
lead to isolation, loneliness, and sometimes
Identity Versus Role Confusion 12-18 Years depression. Intimacy does not connote sex. It means
During adolescence, the transition from sharing one‟s deepest self with another. Resolving this
childhood to adulthood is most important. Children stage results in the virtue of love.
are becoming more independent, and begin to look at
the future in terms of career, relationships, families, Generativity Versus Stagnation 35-65 Years
housing, etc. This comes with establishment of family and
career. Attention shifts from resolving intimacy to
This is a major stage in development where concerns with children and future generations.
the child has to learn the roles he will occupy as an Generativity is the ability to contribute to society.
adult. The main task of adolescence is to achieve a Productivity and creativity lead to a sense of personal
state of identity. Adolescents go through an identity fulfillment. People are concerned with the wellbeing
crisis. The term identity crisis does not connote a of future generations and become mentors.
problem rather it is a transitional stage from which the
adolescent can emerge with a proper identity or role If people fail to be generative, they stagnate.
confusion. This is accompanied by a sense of meaninglessness.
Some people go through a period of soul searching
It is during this stage that the adolescent will known as „midlife crisis‟. They begin to confront their
re-examine his identity and try to find out exactly who own mortality and the fact that they may not achieve
he is. Erikson suggests that two identities are all their goals. The virtue developed at this stage is
involved: the sexual and the occupational. What care
should happen at the end of this stage is a reintegrated
sense of self, of what one wants to do or be, and of Integrity Versus Despair 65 Years And Above
one‟s appropriate sex role. During this stage the body If individuals are successful resolving the first
image of the adolescent changes. Erikson claims that seven crises, they achieve a sense of personal integrity.
the adolescent may feel uncomfortable about their They accept their lives as having been well spent.
body for a while until they can adapt and “grow into” People strive to accept themselves and their past –both
the changes. Success in this stage will lead to the failures and successes. Older people undergo a kind of
virtue of fidelity. life review in an effort to resolve conflicts in the past
 Psychosocial Theory 3
and to find ultimate meaning in their
accomplishments. If successful in this objective search
for meaning, they acquire wisdom, if not they wallow
in despair and bitterness.

Erik Erikson believed if we see our lives as