Erik Erikson's theory outlines 8 stages of psychosocial development across the lifespan. Each stage is defined by a psychosocial crisis between developing social and emotional skills. The document defines each stage from infancy through maturity, outlining the defining crisis, relationships, issues, virtues gained from resolving the crisis positively, and potential problems from failure to resolve the crisis at each period of development.

1. Erik Erikson’s Psycho-Social
Theory of Development

2. Objectives:
•Describe the eight (8) stages of Erikson’s
Theory of Development,
•differentiate the psychosocial crisis in different
life stages and;
•value the importance of the virtue and
maladaptation/malignancy in every stages of
Psycho-social development.

3. Life Stages
Psychosocial Crisis
Relationships/Issues
Basic Virtue
Maladaoptation/Malignancy

4. Stage 1. Infancy (birth to 18 months)

5. Psychosocial Crisis:
Trust Vs. Mistrust
Relationships: Mother
Issues: feeding and being comforted,
teething, sleeping
Basic Virtue: Hope and Drive
Maladaptation: Sensory maladjustment
Malignancy: withdrawal

10. Stage 2. Early Chilhood (toddler)
18 months to 3 years

11. Psychosocial Crisis:
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Relationships: Parents
Issues: bodily functions, toilet training,
muscular control, walking, toilet training
Basic Virtue: Willpower and Self-Control
Maladaptation: Impulsivity
Malignancy: Compulsion

14. Stage 3. Preschool
3 to 6 years

15. Psychosocial Crisis:
Initiative vs. Guilt
Relationships: family
Issues: exploration and discovery,
adventure and play
Basic Virtue: Purpose and Direction
Maladaptation: Ruthlessness
Malignancy: Inhibition

21. School Age
(6 to 11 years)

22. Psychosocial Crisis:
Industry vs. Inferiority
Relationships: school, teachers,
friends, neighbourhood
Issues: achievement and
accomplishment
Basic Virtue: Competence and
Method
Maladaptation: Narrow Virtuosity
Malignancy: Inertia

25. Stage 5. Adolescence
(12 to 18 years)

26. Psychosocial Crisis:
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Relationships: peers, groups, influences
Issues: resolving identity and
direction, becoming a grown-up
Basic Virtue: Fidelity and Devotion
Maladaptation: Fanaticism
Malignancy: Repudiation

29. Stage 6. Young Adulthood
(19 to 40 years)

30. Psychosocial Crisis:
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Relationships: lovers, friends,
work connections
Issues: intimate relationships,
work and social life
Basic Virtue: Love and
Affiliation
Maladaptation: Promiscuity
Malignancy: Exclusivity

36. Stage 7. Middle Adulthood
(40 to 65 years)

37. Psychosocial Crisis:
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Relationships: children, community
Issues: 'giving back', helping,
contributing
Basic Virtue: Care and Production
Maladaptation: Overextension
Malignancy: Rejectivity

43. Stage 8. Maturity
(65 to death)

44. Relationships: society, the world
Issues: meaning and purpose, life
achievements
Basic Virtue: Wisdom and
Renunciation
Maladaptation: Presumption
Malignancy: Disdain
Psychosocial Crisis:
Ego Integrity vs. Despair

47. The End