Developmental psychologist Erik H. Erikson ( 1902-1994) was best known for
his theory on social development of human beings, and for coining the phrase
identity crisis.
The theory describes eight stages through which a healthily developing human
should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage the person confronts,
and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds on the successful completion
of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be
expected to reappear as problems in the future.
(Approx. ages) Stage & Psychosocial crisis
Significant relations
Psychosocial modalities
Psychosocial virtues
Maladaptations & malignancies
(0-1)
Infant
Trust vs mistrust
Mother
to get,
to give in return
hope,
faith
sensory distortion
withdrawal
(2-3)
Toddler
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
Parents
to hold on,
to let go
will,
determination
impulsivity
compulsion
(3-6)
Preschooler
Initiative vs guilt
Family
to go after,
to play
purpose,
courage
ruthlessness
inhibition
(7-12)
School-age child
Industry vs inferiority
Neighborhood and school
to complete,
to make things together
competence
narrow virtuosity
inertia
(12-18)
Adolescent
Ego-identity vs role-confusion
Peer groups, role models
to be oneself,
to share oneself
fidelity, loyalty
fanaticism
repudiation
(20-45)
Young adult
Intimacy vs isolation
Partners, friends
to lose and find oneself in a
another
love
promiscuity
exclusivity
(30-65)
Middle aged adult
Generativity vs self-absorption
Household,
co-workers
to make be,
to take care of
care
overextension
rejectivity
(50+)
Old adult
Integrity vs despair
Mankind or "my kind"
to be,
through having been, to face not being
wisdom
presumption
despair
Erikson's ideas on how we grow up as create identities is in contrast to Freud's,
who proposed sexual motives behind our behaviour.
