Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development consists of 8 stages across the lifespan. Each stage presents a psychosocial crisis between opposing factors that must be resolved to develop virtues. In stage 1 (infancy), the crisis is trust vs mistrust, developing hope. Stage 2 (early childhood) is autonomy vs doubt, developing will. Stage 3 (preschool) is initiative vs guilt, developing purpose. Stage 4 (school age) is industry vs inferiority, developing competence. Stage 5 (adolescence) is identity vs role confusion, developing fidelity. Stage 6 (young adulthood) is intimacy vs isolation, developing love. Stage 7 (adulthood) is generativity vs stagnation, developing care.

1. Erik Erikson’s
STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT

2. Erik Homburger Erikson
• Father of Psychosocial Development
• His theory, Post-Freudian Theory
• Coined the term identity crises, (a turning point in
one’s life that may either strengthen or weaken
one’s personality.)
• A world fame Psychoanalyst, Anthropologist,
Psychohistorian and a Medical School Professor.
Yet he had no college degree of any kind.
• Intended his theory of personality to extend
rather than repudiate Freud’s Psychoanalysis and
to offer a new “way of looking things”.

3. • Regards his theory as the extension of Freud’s
Psychoanalysis.
• His theory is a reflection of his own
background, that consist of arts, extensive
travels, experiences with varied culture and a
lifelong search for his own identity.

4. Introduction
An understanding of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial
development requires awareness of several basic points.
The word Psychosocial Psycho relates to mind, brain and
personality. Social which means the external
relationships and environment. Bio psychosocial, in
which Bio refers to life as in biological.
The theory is a basis for broad or complex
discussion and analysis of personality and behavior, and
also facilitating personal development – of self and
others. Why? Because, this can help the teacher in
becoming more knowledgeable and at the same time
understanding of the various environmental factors that
affect his own and his students personality and behavior.

5. Growth takes place according to epigenetic principle, which
states that a person's development is predetermined. Also,
in every stage of life there is an interaction of opposites, a
conflict between;
Syntonic- A harmonious element (e.g., Trust) &
Dystonic- A disruptive element. (e.g., Mistrust)
Erikson conditioned that people must have these two
experiences in order to grow. At each stage of conflict
between the two elements, a person develops an ego
quality or strength or basic strength (e.g., develops hope,
behind conflicts) that allows a person to move to the next
stage. In dealing with the conflicts,

6. each stage has also a core pathology in which a person
has a tendency to develop the opposite strength (e.g.,
develops withdrawal).
Erikson’s eight stages of development never lose
the sight to biological aspect of human development, he
believes that events in the earlier stage but ego is shape
by the multiplicity of conflicts and events (past, present
and future) that causes an individual to experience
identity crises, and this is not a catastrophic event but
rather an opportunity to maladaptive or adaptive
adjustment.

7. STAGE 1 Infancy
Oral-sensory (0-1 year old)
Trust vs. Mistrust

8. Psychosocial Crisis: The first
stage is infancy, is approximately
the first year or year and a half of
life. The goal is to develop trust
without completely eliminating
the capacity for mistrust. If the
primary caregivers, like the
parents can give the baby a
sense of familiarity, consistency,
and continuity, then the baby will
develop the feeling that the
world is a safe place to be, that
people are reliable and loving.

9. Maladaptation Malignancy
Sensory Maladjustment:
Overly trusting, even gullible,
this person cannot believe
anyone would mean them
harm, and will use all the
defenses at their command to
find an explanation or excuse
for the person who did him
wrong.
Withdrawal:
characterized by
depression, paranoia,
and possibly
psychosis.

10. If the proper
balance is
achieved, the child
will develop the
virtue of Hope.
Basic Strength

11. STAGE 2 Early Childhood
Muscular-Anal (2-3 years old)
Autonomy vs. Doubt

12. He begins to make choices and
express his will. If encouraged,
he develops a sense of
autonomy and independence. In
this stage Erikson believes that
the child may develops a sense
of doubt and shame manifested
in feelings of worthless and
incompetence. We should keep
in mind that even something as
innocent as laughing at the
toddler’s efforts can lead the
child to feel deeply ashamed
and to doubt his or her abilities.

13. Impulsiveness – a sort of
shameless willfulness that
leads you, in a later
childhood and even
adulthood, to jump into
things without proper
consideration of your
abilities.
Maladaptation Malignancy
Compulsiveness –
feels as if their entire
being rides on
everything they do,
and so everything
must be done
perfectly.

14. If you get the proper,
positive balance of
autonomy and shame
and doubt, you will
develop the virtue of
willpower or
determination.
Basic Strength

15. STAGE 3 Play Age
Locomotor-Genital (4-5 years old)
Initiative vs. Guilt

16. Psychosocial crisis: Child begins
to explore his social and physical
worlds discovering what he can
accomplish. Erikson refers to this
as a time for developing a sense
of initiative or a positive attitude
of personal accomplishment. At
this time, the child gradually
becomes aware of the various
social roles presented by his
environment. In Erikson’s view,
the basic influence during this
period is the child’s families who
can help him learn to be
responsible for his behavior and
actions.

17. Maladaptation Malignancy
Ruthlessness – to be
heartless or
unfeeling or be
“without mercy”.
Inhibition - the inhibited
person will not try things
because “nothing ventured,
nothing lost” and,
particularly, nothing to feel
guilty about.

18. Basic Strength
A good balance
leads to the
psychosocial
strengths of
purpose.

19. STAGE 4 School Age
Latency (6-11 years old)
Industry vs. Inferiority

20. Psychosocial Crisis: the child’s
world broadens technical skills are
learned and feelings of
competence, enlarged. Children
enter new world of the
neighborhood and the school. In
Erikson’s view, when children come
to believe that they cannot achieve
according to their school, family, or
peers, their sense of mastery will
give way to personal inferiority.
Thus, they become incapable of
facing the transitory adolescent
years which lie directly ahead.
Parents must encourage, teachers
must care, peers must accept.

21. Maladaptation Malignancy
Narrow Virtuosity: we see
this in children who aren’t
allowed to “be children” the
ones that parents or teachers
push into one area of
competence, without allowing
the development of broader
interests.
Inertia: this includes all
of us who suffer from
the “inferiority
complexes” Alfred
Adler talked about.

22. A happier thing is to
develop the right
balance of industry
and inferiority a–
that is, mostly
industry with just a
touch of inferiority
to keep us sensibly
humble. Then we
have the virtue
called competency.
Virtue

23. STAGE 5 Adolescence
(12-18 years old)
Identity vs. Role confusion

24. Psychosocial Crisis: According to
Erikson, is characterized by an
identity – formation crisis. The
question “Who am I and what
can I do when I become an
adult?” confronts the
adolescent. His struggle is based
not only on societal demands as
an emerging adult, but also on
the pubescent age. Since an
adolescent spends more time
with his friend, the peer group
now becomes an essential
source of general rules of
behavior.

25. Maladaptation Malignancy
Fanaticism –
believes that his
way is the only
way.
Repudiation – they reject
their membership in the
world of adults and, even
more, they reject their
need for an identity.

26. Virtue
If you
successfully
negotiate this
stage, you will
have the virtue
Erikson called
fidelity.

27. STAGE 6 Young Adulthood
(19-40 years old)
Intimacy
vs.
Isolation

28. In this stage the individual
develops a warm and
intimate relationship with
another person. If such
sense of intimacy is not
acquired during this time
of life, a sense of isolation
develop instead. Such
attitude is reflected in the
ability to trust others in a
close and intimate
manner.

29. Maladaptation Malignancy
Promiscuity –
referring
particularly to the
tendency to
become intimate
too freely, too
easily, and without
any depth to you
intimacy.
Exclusion – which
refers to the
tendency to isolate
oneself from love,
friendship, and
community, and to
develop a certain
hatefulness in
compensation.

30. Virtue
If you
successfully
negotiate this
stage, you will
instead carry
with you for the
rest of your life
the virtue
Erikson calls
love.

31. STAGE 7 Adulthood
(40-60 years old)
Generativity
vs.
Stagnation

32. The middle years of stage
comprise the productive
years of adulthood. In this
stage, the individual’s
productivity is gauged by his
contributions to his family
and to society. According to
Erikson, the person who fails
to develop this sense of
generativity becomes
preoccupied instead with his
personal needs and interests
with his personal needs and
interests or both with a sense
of self-absorption.

33. Maladaptation Malignancy
Overextension –
illustrates the
problem. Some
people try to be so
generative that they
no longer allow time
for themselves, for
rest and relaxation.
Rejectivity – too
little generativity
and too much
stagnation and you
are no longer
participating in or
contributing to
society.

34. Virtue
But if you are
successfully at
this stage, you
will have a
capacity for
caring that will
serve you
through the rest
of your life.

35. Ego integrity vs.
Despair
STAGE 8 Old Age/Maturity
(60-death)

36. In the last stage, a person
comes to terms with the
temporal limits of his life. It
is the fulfillment and
culmination. In Erikson’s
view, it is the achievement
of a sense of integrity
resulting from identification
with mankind. If a person,
however, develops an
attitude of regret and fear
of the end of life, then a
sense of despair emerges
instead.

37. Maladaptation Malignancy
y
Presumption – this is
what happens when a
person “presumes” ego
integrity without actuall
facing the difficulties of
old age.
Disdain – by which
Erikson means a
contempt of life,
one’s own or
anyone’s.

38. Virtue
Someone who
approaches death
without fear has the
strength Erikson calls
wisdom.

39. SUMMARY

40. Stage and
Age
Tasks or Crisis Relationships Issues Psychosocial
Outcome
Basic
Strength
Maladaptation Malignancy
Stage 1
birth to 1
year
(Infancy)
Can I trust the
world?
Mother  Support provision of
basic needs,
continuity
 Lack of support,
deprivation,
inconsistency.
Trust vs.
Mistrust
Hope Sensory
Maladjustment
Withdrawal
Stage 2
2-3 years
old
(Early
Childhood)
Can I control my
own behavior
Parents  Judicious
permissiveness,
support.
 Overprotection, lack
of support.
Autonomy vs.
Doubt
Will Impulsivity Compulsion
Stage 3
4-5 years
old
(Play age)
Can I become
independentto
my parents and
explore my
limits?
Family  Encouragement,
Opportunity.
 Lack of opportunity,
negative feelings.
Initiative vs.
Guilt
Purpose Ruthlessness Inhibition

41. Stage 4
(6-11)
Latency
(School age)
Can I master
the skills
necessary to
survive and
adapt?
school, teachers,
friends,
neighbourhood

 Adequate training,
sufficient education,
good models.
Poor training, lack of
direction and support.
Industry vs.
Inferiority
Competence Narrow Virtuosity Inertia
Stage 5
(12-18)
Puberty and
Adolescence
Who am I?
What are my
beliefs, feelings
and attitudes?
Peers, Groups,
Influences

 Internal stability and
continuity, well-defined
sex models and positive
feedback.
Confusion of purpose,
unclear feedback, ill-
defined expectations.
Identity vs. Role
Confusion
Fidelity Fanaticism Repudiation
Stage 6
(19-40)
Young
adulthood
Can I give fully
of myself to
others?
Lovers, Friends,
Work, Connections

 Warmth, understanding,
trust.
Loneliness, ostracism .
Intimacy vs.
Isolation
Love Promiscuity Exclusivity

42. Stage 7
(40-60)
Adulthood
What can I
offer
succeeding
generations?
Children,
Community

 Purposefulness,
productivity
Lack of enrichment,
regression.
Generativity vs.
Stagnation
Care Overextension Rejectivity
Stage 8
(60-death)
Old age/
Maturity
Have I found
contentment
and satisfaction
through my
life’s work and
play?
Society and The
World

 Sense of closure, unity
and direction.
Lack of completeness,
dissatisfaction.
Ego-integrityvs.
Despair
Wisdom Presumption Disdain

43. References
Child and Adolescent Development, by Acero Ph.D,
Javier Ph.D, Castro Ph.D at Chapter 5, Social and
Emotional Development of Adolescents page 94.
Theories of Personality, Fifth edition by Jess and
Gregory Feist at Chapter 9, page 232-261
Hand out on Educational Psychology retrieved from
Perspective Development, Chapter 5 Page 133, Table 4.2
Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development
retrieved from
http://www.ppt.net/deyanaflores/eriksons-stages-of-
psychosocial-development-16062653

44. THE END.