Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development proposed 8 stages that people progress through from infancy to late adulthood. The first stage, trust vs mistrust, occurs from birth to 1 year as infants develop trust or mistrust based on the dependability of their caregivers. The second stage, autonomy vs shame and doubt, takes place in early childhood as toddlers learn independence in controlling their bodily functions. The third stage, initiative vs guilt, happens in preschool years as children begin to assert themselves and direct play, developing a sense of initiative or guilt. Erikson believed that successfully completing each stage leads to healthy development.

1. Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial
Development Stages
By: Margaret & Gabriana
“Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable
virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be
sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is
wounded trust impaired.”
- Erik Erikson

2. • Erik Erikson was born on June 15, 1902
in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. He
moved to Karlsruhe, Germany with his
mother and stepfather.
• Erikson died at the Rosewood Manor
Nursing Home in Harwich, Mass. He
was 91.

3. • Instead of going to college, he traveled around
Europe. After a year he returned to Germany
and enrolled at an art school.
• After several years he was admitted into Vienna
Psychoanalytic Institute.

4. Erikson’s 8 Stages Of
Psychosocial Development:
• Trust vs. Mistrust
• Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
• Initiative vs. Guilt
• Industry vs. Inferiority
• Identity vs. Role Confusion
• Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Generativity vs. Stagnation
• Integrity vs. Despair

5. • Trust vs. Mistrust:
– Occurs between birth to 1 year of age. This is when
an infant is utterly dependent, the development of
trust is based on the dependability and quality of
the child’s caregivers.

6. • Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt:
– The second stage takes places during early
childhood. Erikson believes that learning to control
one’s bodily functions leads to a feeling of control
and a sense of independence.
– Children who successfully complete this stage feel
secure and confident, while those who don’t are
inadequacy and self doubt.

7. • Initiative vs. Guilt:
– The third stage happens in the preschool years.
Children begin to assert their power and take
control over their world through directing play and
other social interactions. It helps the willingness to
work with others.
– Children who are successful at this stage feel
capable and able to lead others.
– Those who fail to acquire these skills are left with a
sense of doubt and guilt.

8. How does this relate to us?
• Gabriana:
– “It was easy for that trust to be there because as
soon as I had him I knew I’ll always be there when
he needs me, even now I always have him with me.
Throughout his life he has grown so much. He went
from scooting to crawling to walking to running, and
as he gets older its fun helping him understand new
things.”
• Margaret:
– “My nurse always told me it’s better for Raiden’s
development if he crawls before he walks so I helped
him by showing him how to crawl around and soon
after he started cruising.”