Chapter 1. Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

Learning Objectives

autonomy vs. shame and doubt
according to Erikson, toddlers learn to exercise their will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities
initiative vs. guilt
according to Erikson, preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent
competence vs. inferiority
according to Erikson, school-age children learn the pleasure of mastering tasks, or they feel inferior
integrity vs. despair
according to Erikson, when reflecting on their past, older adults develop a sense of satisfaction with the course of their life, feeling fulfilled and complete, or they feel as if their life was a failure
generativity vs. stagnation
according to Erikson, in middle age, people discover a sense of well-being through contributing to the world, usually through family and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose
intimacy vs. isolation
according to Erikson, young adults struggle to form close relationships and gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated
identity vs. role confusion
according to Erikson, teenagers develop a sense of self by testing out roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are
trust vs. mistrust
according to Erikson, infants develop a sense of basic trust if their needs are dependably met
Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
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timeline of life stages/erikson stages: simple line drawing representing an individual at each age/stage Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development. Infancy - basic trust stage. Toddlerhood - autonomy stage. Preschool years - initiative stage. School years - competence stage. Adolescence - identity stage. Young adulthood - intimacy stage. Middle adulthood - generativity stage. Late adulthood - integrity stage
Learning Objectives:

Identify the eight stages of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.

Describe the main developmental task or challenge at each of Erikson’s psychosocial stages.

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Diagram of Erikson’s psychosocial stages; 8 colored blocks arranged as stair steps, with simple human figure ascending; black arrow labeled “Psychosocial development”; Infant - trust vs. mistrust. Toddler - Autonomy vs. shame and doubt. Preschooler - Initiative vs. guilt. Grade schooler - Competence vs. inferiority. Teenager
- Identity vs. role confusion. Young adult - Intimacy vs. isolation. Middle aged adult - Generativity vs. stagnation. Older adult - Integrity vs. despair

1. Erik Erikson proposed that as we develop, we pass through eight stages in life, each one loosely associated with a particular age, and each with its own developmental task, or challenge. Psychosocial development is cumulative, in that each stage builds on the successes or failures of the previous stages.

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2. In infancy, the challenge is to develop a basic sense of trust through a secure relationship with the caregiver.

A baby is laying on a bed touching the face of a smiling man leaning over him
Blend Images/Getty Images

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3. Toddlers rebel against the caregiver in order to gain some autonomy and control, while preschoolers expand on this and develop their own initiative to plan and carry out tasks.

A young girl has her arms crossed over her chest with her bottom lip pushed out
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A young boy is pouring milk into a cereal bowl
Fuse/Getty Images

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4. School-age children need to develop a sense of competence (what Erikson called “industry”) in mastering the challenges of life outside the home.

Three girls are studying a small mechanical vehicle
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5. Teens struggle to develop their own identity and find their role in life.

A teenage girl stares up at the sky
iStock/Getty Images

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6. Young adults need to develop intimacy and love in close relationships—the capacity to express love and warmth and to accept this from others.

A man and woman are snuggling in a hammock
stevecoleimages/Getty Images

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7. In middle adulthood, people find ways to express their generativity by making a contribution to family and society. A concern for future generations helps keep them from turning inward and stagnating.

A middle-aged man helps a young boy with his homework as part of a community volunteer program
Blend Images/Getty Images

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8. In late adulthood, people look back on their lives and attempt to develop a sense of integrity (or wholeness) and satisfaction in a life well lived.

An older man is smiling
Johnny Greig/Getty Images

Practice: Exploring Erikson’s Stages

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Practice: Exploring Erikson’s Stages

Roll over each photo to see what stage of psychosocial development is linked to that age group.

0 to 1 year

0-1 year has a baby girl smiling with her mother, press tab button to go to the next image
zulufoto/Shutterstock

1 to 2 years

1 to 2 years has a toddler boy laughing, press tab button to go to the next image
DigitalVision/Getty Images

3 to 5 years

3 to 5 years has a young girl painting with watercolors, press tab button to go to the next image
iStock/Getty Images

6 years to puberty

6 years to puberty has an older girl writing with a pencil as she sits at a desk in school, press tab button to go to the next image
Blend Images/Getty Images

Teen years into 20s

Teen years to 20s has a teenage boy sitting on stairs looking up at the sky, press tab button to go to the next image
Sabphoto/Shutterstock

20s to early 40s

20s to 40s has a man and woman looking into each other's eyes, press tab button to go to the next image
DigitalVision/Getty Images

40s to 60s

40s to 60s has a group of middle aged women gardening, press tab button to go to the next image
DigitalVision/Getty Images

From late 60s on

From late 60s on has an older woman smiling, this is last image
Julie Campbell/Shutterstock

Developmental stage:

Trust vs. mistrust: If needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of basic trust.

Autonomy vs. shame and doubt: Toddlers learn to exercise their will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.

Initiative vs. guilt: Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent.

Competence vs. inferiority: School-age children learn the pleasure of mastering tasks, or they feel inferior.

Identity vs. role confusion: Teenagers develop a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.

Intimacy vs. isolation: Young adults struggle to form close relationships and gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated.

Generativity vs. stagnation: In middle age, people discover a sense of contributing to the world, usually through family and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.

Integrity vs. despair: When reflecting on their past, older adults develop a sense of satisfaction with the course of their life, or they feel like their life was a failure.

Quiz 1

dnd_test

Quiz 1

Drag each stage label to the gray area on the appropriate photo. When all the labels have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

0 to 1 year

0-1 year has a baby girl smiling with her mother
zulufoto/Shutterstock

1 to 2 years

1 to 2 years has a toddler boy laughing
DigitalVision/Getty Images

3 to 5 years

3 to 5 years has a young girl painting with watercolors
iStock/Getty Images

6 years to puberty

6 years to puberty has an older girl writing with a pencil as she sits at a desk in school
Blend Images/Getty Images

Teen years into 20s

Teen years to 20s has a teenage boy sitting on stairs looking up at the sky
Sabphoto/Shutterstock

20s to early 40s

20s to 40s has a man and woman looking into each other's eyes
DigitalVision/Getty Images

40s to 60s

40s to 60s has a group of middle aged women gardening
DigitalVision/Getty Images

From late 60s on

From late 60s on has an older woman smiling
Julie Campbell/Shutterstock

Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.
Perhaps you should go back to review Erikson’s psychosocial stages.
Generativity
Trust
Intimacy
Identity
Autonomy
Competence
Integrity
Initiative

Quiz 2

matching_test

Quiz 2

Match the names of Erikson’s developmental tasks with their descriptions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.
Perhaps you should go back to review Erikson’s psychosocial stages.
Generativity
Identity
Integrity
Intimacy
Autonomy
Competence
Trust
Initiative
If needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of security.
Toddlers learn to exercise their will and do things for themselves.
Preschoolers learn to plan and carry out tasks.
School-age children learn the pleasure of mastering tasks.
Teenagers develop a sense of self by testing various roles.
Young adults struggle to form close relationships.
In middle age, people discover a sense of contributing to the world.
Older adults develop a sense of satisfaction with their life journey.

Conclusion

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Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development. Infancy - basic trust stage. Toddlerhood - autonomy stage. Preschool years - initiative stage. School years - competence stage. Adolescence - identity stage. Young adulthood - intimacy stage. Middle adulthood - generativity stage. Late adulthood - integrity stage
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