Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development describe how social experiences influence personality development from infancy to late adulthood. The document summarizes each of Erikson's eight stages, providing the age range, how personal growth occurs in that stage, how stagnation occurs, the virtues developed, and significant relationships. Each stage involves developing trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, generativity, or integrity. Short stories are also provided as examples to illustrate each stage of development.

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
LIVING = GROWTH
Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
MTL: Models of Management

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MTL: The Professional Development Programme
Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
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The Models of Management series from Slide Topics is a collection of the best ideas in management and personal development. You
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Models of Management

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Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
Timeline
Born in Frankfurt, Germany to a Jewish mother
1902
Travelled around Europe and slept under bridges
1920
Enrolled at art school in Vienna where he later taught
1927
Married a Canadian dancer and became a Christian
1930
Awarded a psychology diploma from Vienna Institute
1933
Became America’s first child analyst at Harvard
1933
Joined Yale University and became a US citizen
1936
Became a prolific writer of psychiatry books
1950
Died aged 92 at Cape Cod, Massachusetts
1994
Who Was Erik Erikson?
Erik Erikson was one of the most famous
developmental psychologists of the 20th century.
He focused much of his work on explaining the
role of the environment on a child's
development. Along with his model of "Lifespan
Psychology", he is most famous for inventing the
phrase "identity crisis", which reflected many of
the challenges in his own life.
Attribution: Wikipedia
In a review published in 2002, Erikson was ranked as
the 12th most quoted psychologist of the 20th century.

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Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
Personal Growth or Stagnation?
Erik Erikson first published his 8-stage theory of human development in his 1950 book "Childhood and Society"
under the title, "The Eight Ages of Man". Erikson called the theory, “Lifespan Psychology”. It shows how each of
the major changes in life, from birth to death, is accompanied by a quality that can promote personal growth and
one that can prevent it and leave the individual in stagnation. There are 8 qualities for both change and
stagnation. They are the same qualities that are present in any other change process in our lives.
The Awareness – Acceptance –
Growth cycle produces change
and development.
The Ignorance – Blockage -
Inaction cycle produces
stagnation and no growth.
The 8 stages in the Growth cycle are:
Trust – Autonomy – Initiative – Industry – Identity –
Intimacy – Generativity – Integrity
The 8 stages in the Stagnation cycle are:
Mistrust – Shame and Doubt – Guilt – Inferiority -
Role Confusion – Isolation – Stagnation - Despair

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Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
1. Trust
In personal growth, Trust is the
belief that things will work out
even if we don't have the
evidence to prove it.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 0 - 1 years. Babies trust their mothers implicitly.
How you grow: Trust is the foundation and first stage of all growth.There is
no growth withoutTrust.Trust is necessary for us to change
because we cannot be sure where things will lead, we simply
have to believe that things will work out.Trust is a reliance on
our own and other people's integrity.Trust produces a strong
belief in ourselves and others.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite ofTrust is Mistrust which leads to total lack of
co-operation. We withdraw, withhold and stop taking
chances with our life. Mistrust often arises if we have had
previous experiences of being let down.
Virtues: Hope and faith
Significant others: Mother

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"Be trustworthy. Be the person who can keep a secret, isn't a gossip,
and can be counted on in all situations." (Larry Winget)
Bind and Bond
The following story illustrates “Trust".
A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little
daughter, "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so
that you don't fall into the river.
"The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl." If I
hold your hand and something happens to me, the
chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you
hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what
happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its
bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person
whom you love and trust rather than expecting them
to hold yours.
https://pixabay.com/en/father-daughter-happy-father-s-day-1476167/

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2.Autonomy
In personal growth, Autonomy
means allowing people the
freedom to explore, to make
mistakes and grow.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 2 - 3 years.This is the age when toddlers begin to to stand on their own
two feet.
How you grow: In developmental work, autonomy is expressed as Ownership
and Responsibility. No growth is possible if people don't own
their own process of change. Others, whether they are
managers or parents, keep their distance, allow for mistakes
and let it be known they are there for support.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Autonomy is Dependence, Shame and Doubt.
These conditions are created when others hammer home the
message: "do it my way or no way"; "don't dare make any
mistakes"; and "check with me before you do anything".
Virtues: Will and determination
Significant others: Parents

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“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to
engagement.” (Daniel H. Pink)
The Emerging Butterfly
The following story illustrates “Autonomy”.
A man found a butterfly cocoon. One day a small
opening appeared. The man watched the butterfly as it
struggled to force its body through the hole. The man
decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors
and snipped the cocoon open. The butterfly then
emerged easily.
But something wasn't quite right. The butterfly had a
swollen body and shrivelled wings. The man expected
that at any moment the wings would expand to support
the body. But this did not happen. Instead, the butterfly
spent the rest of its life unable to fly.
What the man had not understood was that the struggle
for the butterfly to get through the small opening in the
cocoon was Nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of
the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for
flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

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3. Initiative
The word "initiative" derives
from the word "initiate"
meaning to start something new.
When we show our initiative, we
try things out.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 4 - 5 years.This is the age when small children want to try things they've
never done before.
How you grow: In developmental work, initiative and experimentation is the
phase when all things are possible. Nothing is barred. Work is
like play. It is an endless process of discovery, made possible
by the permission and guidance of others.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Initiative is Guilt. Guilt makes us think that it
is wrong to try things out. It is the emotion attached to
wrongful doing. When we feel guilty, we are paralysed into
inaction and expect punishment.
Virtues: Purpose and courage
Significant others: Family

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"In order to do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the
bank thinking of the cold and the danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we
can.” (Sydney Smith)
Digging a Trench
The following story illustrates “Initiative".
One day an elderly couple who had retired to the
countryside noticed a man on the heath carrying a
spade and a small case. The next day, the man
appeared again and the following day too. On the next
day, becoming suspicious, the couple decided to go up
on the heath to see what he was doing. When they got
there, they discovered a long trench in the ground.
Just then the young man appeared. Seeing their
surprise, he explained, "I'm digging a trench. Well,
actually I'm learning how to dig a good trench, because
the job I'm being interviewed for later today says that
experience is essential. So I'm getting the experience.
And the case - it's got my lunch in it."
The next day there was a knock at the old couple's
door. It was the young man. "I got the job," he said. The
old woman smiled and said, "We knew you would."

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4. Industry
In personal growth, industry
means applying ourselves to
learning the skills to manage
new situations.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 6 - 11 years.The days of childhood are the days when we throw ourselves
into things we love to do for no other reason than we want to do them.The
world of learning begins to open up to us.
How you grow: In developmental work, industry helps us learn new skills to
cope with the changes we have initiated.We apply ourselves
to knowledge, to skills and to the discipline of learning.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Industry is Inferiority, the belief that we're not
capable: " I could never do that". Inferiority is also seen in the
fear of trying and in a use of comparisons between ourselves
and those who already possess the skills.
Virtues: Competence
Significant others: School

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn
how to do it." (Pablo Picasso)
Kicking a Giraffe to its Feet
The following story illustrates “Industry“.
In his book, "A View from the Zoo", Gary Richmond
gives an example of the importance of working at
something until you get it right.
He describes how a new-born giraffe learns its first
lesson. Its mother positions herself over the calf and
gives it a strong kick to make it stand. She then
repeats it again and again. Even when the baby calf
grows tired of being kicked to its feet, the mother
kicks it again to stimulate its efforts. Finally, the calf
stands for the first time on its wobbly legs. Then the
mother giraffe kicks it off its feet again. Why? She
wants it to remember how it got up.
In the wild, lions, hyenas, and wild hunting dogs all
enjoy young giraffes. Being able to get up as quickly as
possible is a way to stay with the herd, where there is
safety.

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5. Identity
In personal growth, Identity means
being able to break free from past
concepts of who we are and
making up our minds to be who
we want to be.
Age: 12 - 18 years. In the teenage years, young people begin to ask the
question: "Who am I?" Answering it is a sometimes painful process of self-
reflection, experimentation and learning from experience.
How you grow: In developmental work, identity is the process of awareness
and acceptance: "I know who I am. I accept myself whatever
anyone else says or thinks."
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Identity is Role Confusion. Instead of working
out who we want to be, we play roles to suit others. We seek
to please them and worry about the impression we make.We
swing in the wind.
Virtues: Fidelity and loyalty
Significant others: Peers and role models
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +

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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't
matter and those who matter don't mind." (Dr Seuss)
The Sting of a Scorpion
The following story illustrates "identity"; why, when
we know who we are, we need to stay true to our
nature, regardless of the outcomes.
There was a man in India who saw a scorpion
drowning in some water. He decided to save it by
stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him.
The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the
water, but the scorpion stung him again.
A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion
that kept stinging him. But the other man said: "It is
the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to
love. Why should I give up my nature to love just
because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

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6. Intimacy
In personal growth, Intimacy means
growing close to others in
relationships that are open and
honest.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 19 - 35 years. As young adults, we make our first steps into the outside
world alone.This is the time when we do things for others selflessly: we put
ourselves out for customers, we share innermost feelings with friends, we fall
in love with partners.
How you grow: In developmental work, intimacy means being willing to form
relationships in which there is risk-taking and vulnerability
and a high level of respect for others.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Intimacy is Isolation.We develop shallow
relationships at arms' length and feel safer in formal, polite,
ritualistic relationships or in being alone.
Virtues: Love and respect
Significant others: Friends and partners

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“Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may
not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” (Albert Camus)
I Knew You'd Come
The following story illustrates “Intimacy".
The story is told of a soldier who saw his life-long
friend fall in battle in No Man's Land. The soldier
asked his lieutenant if he might go and bring his
comrade back. "You can go," said the lieutenant,
"but I think your friend is dead and you may be
shot."
The lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier
went anyway. Under fire, he managed to reach his
friend and bring him back to their trench. As the two
of them tumbled in together, the officer checked
them both and said, "I told you it wouldn't be worth
it. Your friend is dead, and you are badly wounded."
"It was worth it, though, sir," the soldier said. "When
I got to him, he was still alive, and I heard him say,
'Jim, I knew you'd come.'"

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7. Generativity
In personal growth, Generativity
means the power to generate and
produce things for the good of
others.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 36 - 60 years. Our mature years are the years when, if we have been
nurtured well, we give freely of ourselves. We produce whatever we believe we
are gifted to produce.We let our talents have free rein. Nobody makes us do it.
We do it because we believe it is what we are here to do.
How you grow: In developmental work, generativity is the result of finding
what we are good at and then doing things that make the
most of our gifts.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Generativity is Self-Absorption, the need to
have something back before we're prepared to give. It is
RadioWIIFM: "What's In It For Me?".
Virtues: Care and giving
Significant others: Home and workmates

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“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” (Arthur Ashe)
TheAcorn Planter
The following story illustrates "generativity", giving
something back.
While travelling in the French Alps in the 1930's, a
young man came upon a rocky valley where he saw an
old man with a sack of acorns and a length of iron pipe.
The old man was planting acorns in the ground. When
the traveller asked him why he was wasting his time in
the barren valley, the old man said, "My wife and son
have died and I want to do something useful before I die
too. I've planted over 100,000 acorns. Perhaps only a
tenth of them will grow."
25 years later the now not-as-young traveller returned
to the same desolate area. What he saw amazed him.
The land was covered with a beautiful forest two miles
wide and five miles long. Birds were singing, animals
were playing, and wild flowers perfumed the air. The
traveller stood there recalling the desolation that he
saw before. Now a beautiful oak forest stood there, all
because someone wanted to give something back.

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Erik Erikson’s Lifespan Psychology
8. Integrity
In personal growth, Integrity
means living according to a set of
rules, values and principles that
underlie what we do, what we
say and who we are. They are the
things that matter more to us
than anything else.
2 – 3 years 6 – 11 years
0 – 1 years 4 – 5 years 12 – 18 years 19 – 35 years 36 – 60 years 60 years +
Age: 60 + years. Integrity describes the time of old age and retirement, when
our main life's work is done and the lifespan cycle nears completion.
How you grow: The growth cycle is complete when we learn to live with those
values and principles that are right for us.These become part
of who we are; there is meaning and a sense of completion in
our lives.
How you get
stuck:
The opposite of Integrity is Despair, the feeling that it has all
been a waste of time.We look back with a sense of a life that
could have been better and now it is too late to do anything
about it.
Virtues: Wisdom and understanding
Significant others: Mankind or “my kind”

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"It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy
with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.” (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
The New Emperor
The following story illustrates “Integrity".
An ageing emperor in the East decided on a novel way
to choose his successor. He called the city's youths to his
palace. Handing out some special seeds, he told them,
"Go and plant these seeds. In a year's time, I will judge
your plants and choose the new emperor."
One boy named Ling took his pot home and planted the
seed. Every day he watered it but nothing grew. Even
though his friends at school were talking about their
growing plants, Ling only had an empty pot.
When the day came to return to the palace, Ling went
with a frightened heart. The emperor appeared. All the
other youths had magnificent plants. When the
emperor saw Ling's plant, he summoned him to the
front and announced to the crowd, "Behold your new
emperor! He has courage and integrity for all the seeds I
gave you were boiled and useless. He was the only one
not to cheat. He will be a wise ruler over you all."

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Worksheet: Living = Growth
Instructions: When you have fully studied the learning model, work through the 5 questions below. Use the right-hand
column to jot down your thoughts and action plans. Use these for further discussion and action.
1. In terms of this model, at what
stage of development are you?
2. Describe how you have worked
through previous stages of your
personal growth.
3.What features of your current
stage of growth do you find
natural and rewarding?
4.What features of your current
stage of growth do you find
challenging and difficult?
5. How do you expect to move into
your next stage of lifespan
growth?

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https://pixabay.com/en/fall-autumn-red-season-woods-1072821/
"Change and growth
take place when a
person has risked
himself and dares to
become involved with
experimenting with his
own life."
(Herbert Otto)

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THANK YOU
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