- Erik Erikson developed a theory of psychosocial development consisting of 8 stages from infancy to late adulthood. Each stage involves a psychological "crisis" between opposing tendencies that influences development. - The first stage from birth to 1 year involves developing trust vs mistrust, influenced by consistent care from parents. The second stage from 1-2 years involves autonomy vs shame, influenced by independence allowed by parents. - Subsequent stages involve initiative vs guilt from ages 2-6, industry vs inferiority from 6-12, identity vs role confusion from 12-18, intimacy vs isolation from 19-40, generativity vs stagnation from 40-65, and integrity vs despair from 65 onwards. -

2. Presented by
Dr. MADHURI GUPTA
PG STUDENT 2nd YEAR (2022-25)
Department of Pedodontics
D.J COLLEGE OF DENTAL SCIENCES AND
RESEARCH MODINAGAR
Erikso
n
Theor
y

3. Introduction
• The study of development of
human personality and behavior is
one of the most interesting
branches of science.
• With developing personality
comes the acquisition of newer
skills, the power to think and
reason, various emotions like fear,
anxiety, joy, happiness etc; each
of these contribute in its own way
to convert the infant into a
mature adult.

4. • Psychology is defined as science dealing
with Human mind and behavior.
• Child Psychology is defined mental power
or interaction through conscious and
subconscious elements in the child.

5. Gerald Z. Wright 1975 Mc Donald 2004

6. Psychosocial theory
• Developed by Erik Erikson
• Erik H Erikson was a Danish-German-
American developmental psychologist and
psychoanalyst known for his theory on
social development of human beings.
• He may be most famous for coining the
phrase identity crisis.
• 8 psychosocial stages

7. Psychosocial theory
Freud and Erikson share some important assumptions:
• Each stage is defined as two opposing physical tendencies
– Sytactic
– Dystonic
• Unresolved issues from early stages of life affect person’s
ability to deal with subsequent stages

8. Each stage is characterized by a
different psychological ‘crisis’
1. Development of trust (birth to 1 year):
Basic trust vs. mistrust – oral sensory stage
2. Development of autonomy (1 to 2 years):
Autonomy vs. shame and doubt – muscular anal
stage
3. Development of initiative (2 to 6 years):
Initiative vs. guilt – locomotor genital stage
4. Mastery of skills (6 to 12 years):
Industry vs. inferiority – latency stage
5. Development of personal identity (12 to 18 years):
Identity vs. role confusion – adolescence stage

9. 6. 19-40 years - Young adulthood
Intimacy vs. Isolation
7. 40 – 65 years – Middle adulthood
Generativity vs. stagnation
8. 65 years onwards – Late adulthood
Integrity vs. despair

10. Development of trust (Basic Trust vs.
Mistrust) birth to 1 year
• Corresponds to oral stage of Freud or infancy
• Psychosocial crises in this period involves basic trust at one
extreme and mistrust at the other

11. Parents attitude
• If the infant’s needs are met and
discomforts removed properly they
develop a sense of trust towards
people
• If the care is inconsistent,
inadequate and rejecting, a basic
mistrust is fostered.
• Fear and suspicion develops toward
the world in general

12. Separation anxiety
• Tight bond between parent and
child in this early stage of
emotional development is
reflected in a strong sense of
separation anxiety when separated
from the parent

13. Significance in dentistry
• Dental treatment at an early stage is
preferably done in the parent’s
presence
• If possible while the child is being
held by one of the parents
• At later stages, a child who never
developed a sense of basic trust is
likely to be an extremely frightened
and uncooperative patient

14. Development of autonomy(autonomy
vs. shame or doubt) 1 to 2 years
• Corresponds to anal stage of Freud or toddler stage
• Child takes pride in new accomplishments
• The child who passes through this stage with a sense of
autonomy is well prepared to be autonomous in later stages of
life

15. Parents attitude
• If the parents allow him to develop at
his own pace and reassure when he
makes mistakes, then a sense of self-
control of muscles impulses and
environment is developed, which will
contribute to the confidence needed
to cope with future situations.
• if the caretakers are overprotective
or impatient and do everything for
the child, they reinforce a sense of
shame and doubt

16. Terrible Two’s
• Little angel
• Little Devil

17. Significance in dentistry
• have the child to think that whatever
the dentist wants to do was his or her
own choice
• For a 2 year old seeking autonomy, it is
alright to say “open your mouth if you
want to”
• offer the child reasonable choices
whenever possible
• Simple procedures should be done in
presence of parent

18. Development of Initiative
(initiative vs. guilt) 2 to 6 years
• Corresponds to phallic stage of Freud.
• Can initiate motor activities and language
• Achieves balance between eagerness for adventure and
responsibility
• Learn to control impulses

19. Parents attitude
• Encouraging
• consistent in discipline
• children will learn to accept without
guilt, that certain things are not
allowed, but at the same time will not
feel shame when using their
imagination.

20. Parents attitude
• Initiative is reinforced when
parents answer their questions
• If no, the child may develop a
sense of guilt over self
initiated activities in general

21. Significance in dentistry
• First dental visit comes during
this stage of initiative
• Visit to the dentist should be
constructed as an adventure in
which the child can experience
success
• Success in coping with the anxiety
of visiting dentist can help in a
greater sense of accomplishment

22. Significance in dentistry
• But if the child is poorly
managed, the dental visit can
result in a sense of guilt that
accompanies failure
• An exploratory visit with little
work is often a good way to
start the dental experience.

23. Mastery of Skills (industry vs.
inferiority) 6 to 12 years
• Corresponds to latency period of Freud or elementary and middle
school years (6 to 12 years)
• School is the important event at this stage.
• Children learn to make things, use tools and acquire the skills
• In Erikson’s terms, the child acquires industriousness and begins
the preparation for entrance into a competitive world. The
influence of parents as role models decreases and the influence
of peer group increases.

25. Parents attitude
• If children can discover pleasure
in intellectual stimulation, being
productive, seeking success they
will develop a sense of
competence.

26. Parents attitude
If the child is allowed too little
success, because of harsh
teachers or rejecting peers,
for example, then he or she will
develop a sense of inferiority
or incompetence.

27. Significance in dentistry
• Behavior guidance is done in this
stage by clearly outlining to the
child, what to do or how to
behave and then reinforcing it
positively.
• Cooperation with treatment can
be obtained

28. Significance in dentistry
• They like to get attention of peer
groups and motivated by the
facts that can be noticed by the
peers
• e.g. improved appearance by
dental treatment rather than
properly aligned teeth or chewing
efficiency

29. Development of Personal Identity
(identity vs. role confusion) 12 to 18 years
• Corresponds to genital stages of Freud
• Adolescent integrates the healthy resolutions of all previous the
previous conflicts
• Those who have dealt the previous stages positively are ready
for ‘identity crisis’

30. Parents attitude
• Authority of parents and
others is usually rejected in
this stage for establishing one’s
own identity
• members of the peer group
become important role models

31. Significance in dentistry
• Behavior management of adolescents can be
challenging.
• Any orthodontic treatment should be carried
out if child wants it and not parents as at this
stage, parental authority is being rejected.
• Approval of peer group is extremely important.
• For example, orthodontic treatment has
become so common that there may be a loss of
status from being one of the few in the group
who is not receiving treatment, so that
treatment may even be requested in order to
remain “one of the crowd”.

32. Development of Intimacy
Young adulthood (19-40 years)
• Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Not developmentally complete until you are capable of intimacy
• External appearance very important
• Focus on orthodontic and esthetic treatments

33. Guidance of next generation
Middle adulthood (40-65years)
• Generativity vs. stagnation
• Adult’s ability to look outside and care for others.
• Opposite : self centered behaviour

34. Attainment of Integrity
Late adulthood (65 years to death)
• Integrity vs. despair
• Peak of adjustment
• Sense of fulfillment about life
• Opposite: disgust and unhappiness

35. Criticism of Erik Erikson Theory
• Methodology is based on observation no
statistical analysis done
• No role of genetics
• Focuses heavily on stages and assuming
that the completion of one stage is
prerequisite for the next crisis of
development
• Socio economic bias

36. References
• Contemporary Orthodontics ; 5th edition
: William R. Proffit
• Child Psychology in Pediatric Dentistry;
J Jasmin Winnier: Lambert Publications
• Pediatric Dentistry; 3rd Edition: Shobha
Tandon

37. Thank you