Erikson s 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development

1. Prepared By: Zulfiqar Behan
Assistant Professor
GECE Lyari Karachi

2.  This lesson discusses the 8 stages of
development psychologist Erik Erickson
studied and developed.

3.  Erickson was born in Frankfurt, Germany on June 15,
1902.
 Erickson’s father abandoned his mother before he
was born.
 Erickson’s mother then married Dr. Theodor Homberger,
who was Erickson’s doctor.
 When Erickson graduated high school, he wandered the
streets of London, hoping to become an artist.
 When he was 25, one of his friends suggested he apply
for a teaching position at an American school that was
run by Dorothy Burlingham.
 It was here that Erickson began learning about
pshychology.
About Erikson

4.  While he worked at this schoo, Erickson was
psychoanalyzed by Anna Freud.
 He then met his wife here and had three children
with her.
 Because of the Nazi’s coming into power,
Erickson and his family were forced to leave
Vienna and they went to Copenhagen.
 After that move, they left for Boston and Erickson
was offered a job at Harvard Medical School.
Continued ….

5.  Erickson began practicing child psychoanalysis.
 Erickson then moved onto teaching at Yale.
 After his time at Yale he began teaching at
University of California Berkeley.
 It was while he was at Berkeley that he did his
studies that are now famous.
 Erickson died in 1994.
Continued ….

6.  Infant (birth – 18 mos)
•At this stage, an infant develops their sense of
trust. With proper care and attention, the child
will be able to trust. However, if this does not
happen, it leads to mistrust in the child’s life.
•Important events: Feeding
•Basic conflict: Trust vs. Mistrust

7.  Early Childhood (2 – 3 years)
•Child needs to develop a certain level of
independence through exploration.
•Important Events: Toilet training
•Basic Conflict: Autonomy vs. Shame and
Doubt

8.  Preschool (3 – 5 years)
•A sense of control and power is important in a
child’s life at this stage. They feel a sense of
purpose if they succeed in this.
•Important Events: Exploration
•Basic Conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt

9.  School Age (6 – 11 years)
•Children are forced to cope with school and
other social demands.
•Important Events: School
•Basic Conflict: Industry vs. Inferiority

10.  Adolescence (12 – 18 years)
•Teens develop a sense of self. If they
accomplish this, they can stay true to
themselves and what they believe.
•Important Events: Social Relationships
•Basic Conflict: Identity vs. Role Confusion

11.  Young Adulthood (19 – 40 years)
•Intimate, loving relationships need to form in this
stage. If this fails to happen, people feel alone and
isolated.
•Important Events: Relationships
•Basic Conflict: Intimacy vs. Isolation

12.  Middle Adulthood (40 – 65 years)
•Adults need to create things that they can nurture
that will outlast them; generally, children. If they do
not accomplish this, they will feel as though they
did nothing good for the world.
•Important Events: Work and Parenthood
•Basic Conflict: Generativity vs. Stagnation

13.  Maturity (65 – death)
•Adults look back onto their life and need to be
able to feel fulfilled. If they do not feel this, they
will feel bitter and defeated.
•Important Events: Reflection on Life
•Basic Conflict: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

14.  http://psychology.about.com/library/bl_psyc
hosocial_summary.htm
 http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.ht ml
Dr. George C. Boeree, 2006
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson
%27s_stages_of_psychosocial_development