Erik Erikson was a psychoanalyst who expanded on Freud's stages of psychosexual development by creating his own eight-stage theory of psychosocial development across the human lifespan. Erikson's theory proposed that an individual must pass through eight stages of development from infancy to late adulthood. Each stage presents a developmental crisis which influences personality development. Erikson developed his theory based on his experiences, including studying Native American cultures and having an unconventional childhood. His theory contributed to understanding human growth and development across the entire lifespan.

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Stages of the Life Cycle: A Psychosocial Theory - Erikson
Mikele Neely
Colorado Technical University

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Stages of the Life Cycle: A Psychosocial Theory - Erikson
Life cycle, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, “The series of stages in form
and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a
specified primary stage” (2010). Erik Erikson was a psychoanalyst who lived to the age of
ninety-two years old. He spent his life expanding Freud's stages of psychosexual development.
Freud's theory had five stages, which were Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital, which
Erikson expanded and evolved into eight stages of his own. Erikson believed that, "Successfully
passing through each of these stages is thought to contribute to the overall development of the
individual personality with unique strengths and weaknesses" (Leifer, & Hartson, 2004).
Born in Germany to a young Jewish woman, Karla Abrahamsen, and an unnamed Danish
man, who abandoned the family before Erikson was born, his life began rough. His mother
married Theodore Homberger when Erikson was three years old. Erikson was teased at school
for being a “tall, blond, blue-eyed boy who was also Jewish." He graduated high school and
became an artist and a teacher of art. Erik changed his birth given name when he moved to
America. His son believes the change was a decision that Erik made to define himself as, "Erik,
son of Erik" (Boeree, 1997).
After being psychoanalyzed by Anna Freud, Erikson began to extend Freud's stages of
psychosexual development. "Erik H. Erikson's life cycle schema consists of eight stages. Three
are located in infancy and early childhood (ages 1-5), one in childhood (5-12), one in
adolescence, and three in adulthood" (Capps, 2004). The stages of his theory are: Trust vs.
Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity
vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Self-Absorption, and Integrity vs.
Despair. Trust vs. Mistrust happens while in infancy, the child develops trust of others to meet

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their own needs and begins to trust their self and others. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
happens while in toddler years; they gain the ability to act independently and trust themselves to
be good. Initiative vs. Guilt happens in preschool; they gain role models and follow the rules as
well as experience self control in social interactions. Industry vs. Inferiority happens during the
school age; they develop the ability to make friends and independently achieve school tasks.
Identity vs. Role Confusion happens in adolescents; they learn to know themselves and what
they believe, they also develop a career goal. Intimacy vs. Isolation happens as a young adult;
they develop an ability to share all aspects of life with others. Generativity vs. Self-Absorption
happens as a middle adult; they can contribute to society in a meaningful way. Last, Integrity vs.
Despair happens as an older adult; they maintain a sense of life achievement and absence of deep
regret. Each stage builds to the next guiding the person to reach old age with a sense of life
achievement, thus completing the life cycle. "Growth refers to an increase in physical size...
Development, on the other hand, refers to the progressive acquisition of skills and the capacity to
function" (Polan, & Taylor, 2007).
"Erik Erikson spent time studying the cultural life of the Sioux of South Dakota and the
Yurok of Northern California. He utilized the knowledge he gained of culture, environmental,
and social influences to further develop his psychoanalytic theory." Freud’s theory had focused
on the sexual side of development, however, Erikson’s experience with the Sioux and Yurok
Native Americans helped him broaden Freud’s theory, expanding and evolving the stages to
become a psychoanalytical theory (Cherry, 2010). Because of this, "Erikson's basic philosophy
might be said to rest on two major themes: (1) the world gets bigger as we go along and (2)
failure is cumulative" (Harder, 2002).

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All in all, Erik Erikson’s life experiences contributed to the development of his theory.
From his rough childhood, to his successful adult life, and the time Erikson spent with the Sioux
and Yurok Native Americans, he was able to expand on Freud’s theory to develop his own
theory. He defined himself as a self made man when he changed his last name from Homberger
to Erikson. All eight stages of Erikson’s life cycle theory contribute to a successful life and a
sense of completion before death. Due to his theory he will remain in history as a respected
psychoanalyst and life theorist.

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References
Boeree, G. (1997). Erik Erikson. Personality Theories, Retrieved from
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.html
Capps, D. (2004). The Decades of life: relocating Erikson’s stages. Pastoral Psychology, 53(1),
Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&hid=106&sid=fce9a12f-
61af-4303-b4ac-c763e2856c4a%40sessionmgr112
Cherry, K. (2010). Erik Erikson biography (1902-1994). About.com: Psychology, Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htm
Harder, A.F. (2002). The developmental stages of Erik Erikson. Childhood Affirmations,
Retrieved from http://www.learningplaceonline.com/stages/organize/Erikson.htm
Leifer, G., & Hartson, H. (2004). Growth and development across the lifespan. St. Louis, MO:
Elsevier.
Life cycle. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved May 27, 2010, from
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life cycle
Polan, E., & Taylor, D. (2007). Theories of growth and development. Journey across the life
span. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/nrc/pdf?vid=8&hid=106&sid=6e718025-
8cca-4d21-8082-30fbeb25263c%40sessionmgr112