Running head: ERIKSON SELF-STUDY

Erikson Self- Study

Brittany Muhlenkamp
Ivy Tech Community College

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Introduction

Erik Homberger Erikson was born in 1902 near Frankfort, Germany. Erik studied art and
a variety of languages during his school years. Instead of attending college he decided to travel
around Europe. Following the trip he returned to Germany and enrolled in an art school. Erikson
was constantly concerned about the rapid social changes in America. (Wendy Sharkey, 1997)
Erikson developed a theory compromised of eight psychosocial stages that humans pass
through during their life. There is a negative and positive outcome to each stage, based upon
events in that stage. Individuals who meet major events in the stages positively will feel
complete; those whose life experiences are negative during the stages generally feel discouraged,
making it difficult to pass through the next stage successfully.
The purpose of this paper is to define and explain Eriksons stages, and incorporate my
life experiences into these stages. It will help me become a better teacher by understanding the
stages of growth and development my students will pass through, in my future classroom. By
knowing these stages I will be able to encourage my students in the right direction.

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Stage 1- Trust VS. Mistrust

Stage one is for the age group of birth to 18 months. In this stage infants are learning to
trust or mistrust their surroundings and their parents based on if the infants needs are
consistently. The most important event during this time is feeding. It is best to feed on demand,
and the infant will learn to trust. When parents are unaware or negligent of their infants feeding
schedule, he/she may go hungry and learn to mistrust the provider. An infant is entirely
dependent upon his or her caregivers; the quality of care that the child receives plays an
important role in the shaping of the childs personality. (Kendra cherry, 2014)
Infants are unsure of the world they live in and will need to have someone to help, care
for, and guide. The parents or caregivers need to show the infant love, emotion, stability, and
security, so that the infant will look for them in a time of need. At this stage the infant will
always need that parent there to care for them in nearly every way. It is literally a matter of
survival. If the infant develops a sense of mistrust, due to lack of feeding, holding, affection, and
overall care, he or she will carry it to other situations as life goes on. Infants who come out of
this stage with trust will have a good basis for the virtue of hope.
I went back and looked at old photos of my life to see how I could reflect on this stage.
My mother and father raised me during this stage, and I know I was cared for by both of them
during this stage, just by the love I have for them today. The photos I found showed that I had
more than one person to look up to during this stage: my grandfather, grandmother, father,
mother, and many more family members were involved with my life. My grandparents baby-sat
me every day and I learned to trust them just as much as I did my parents. Without all of them I
know I would not be where I am today. My parents provided me with food, drinks, and shelter.
They showed me love in every way and made sure I was always taken care of. I never had to

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worry about having a sense of mistrust with my family; they influenced my life in such a positive
way. Without all of the support and security I received by my family I could be a completely
different person; instead I am on the right track when it comes to trusting the world and the
people around me and I love it.

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Stage 2- Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Stage two is the age group of 18 months to 3 years of age. In this stage children are
beginning to learn independence. Toddlers will try to pick out their toys, get dressed by
themselves, pick out and eat their favorite foods, run away from their provider, and generally
decide what they do and do not like. Toddlers start testing their parents with what they can and
cannot get away with. Potty training is the most important event during this stage. Toilet
training plays a major role; learning to control ones body functions leads to a feeling of control
and a sense of independence. (Kendra Cherry, 2014) It is not just about the act of being potty
trained, but the way it is taught. The parents need to be supportive during this time, showing
encouragement and patience; this helps a child feel confident and build feelings of autonomy. On
the other hand, impatient, demanding parents will bring feelings of shame and doubt during this
time. Parents need to allow toddlers the time they need to accomplish new tasks such as
dressing, brushing teeth, and eating. During this stage the children are developing their selfesteem, so it is very important that the parents always encourage them. The parents need to
make them try things on their own and then if the child cannot finish it tell them, It is ok, maybe
next time and then help them out.
My parents would never tell me that I could not do something. At this age I found
pictures of myself trying on my fathers tennis shoes and dumping Spaghetti Os on my head
because I did not like them. My mom even told me I would go and eat the dirt out of the
flowerpots until she moved them. This just shows that I had to try things to find out my likes,
dislikes, and whether or not I could or could not do things. Without the positive support of my
parents, I may not have carried so much self- esteem with me along the way. My parents

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allowed me to try things on my own and explore, which helped me become more self-reliant and
successful today.

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Stage 3- Initiative vs. Guilt

Stage 3 is the age groups ranging from 3 to 5 years old. The most important thing about
this stage is giving your child the chance to explore through play and imagination. Giving our
children time to develop good imaginations is one way of building initiative. Children should
have many hours of imagination, exploration, peer- interaction, etc., and they will develop a
strong sense of personal initiative. Children also start asking many questions, during this stage,
as their thirst for knowledge grows. We should not discourage the Whys children have; this
leads children to feelings of being a nuisance, which expands feelings of guilt. Success with this
stage provides a positive sense of purpose; without purpose children will feel guilt.
This stage really set me up to succeed or fail. I was given very many opportunities to
learn. My mother taught me how to tie my shoes during this stage. My grandfather was a huge
help to me during this stage. He molded my work ethic with this stage, teaching me so many
things, like learning to mow a yard. I would try and fail and then try again and succeed; no one
ever made me feel like I could not do something. While at my grandmothers home she had a
fake library set up in her garage, and my cousins and I were given the chance to have an
imagination and play house, school, library, and many other imaginative activities. At my
mothers home we had a playroom where my brother and I could play with each other or by
ourselves, and explore and play make believe with hundreds of toys. I was also being introduced
to sports during these years. My father would coach my little dribblers team and I had the
opportunity to explore and make new friends. I was also involved in gymnastics and dance and
participated in very many recitals, which allowed me to explore performing in front of people I
did not know. This stage was very well handled on my parents part; they made sure I could use

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my imagination and explore all of my surroundings. Although I did not know at the time, the
future of my life was being designed when I was given opportunities to both failing and success.

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Stage 4- Industry vs. Inferiority

Stage 4 ranges from ages 6 to 11 years old. This stage is very important because it
further develops the childs self-confidence through school and social interactions. Teachers will
become important role models in the childs life as they teach, encourage, and build a sense of
industry. Teachers will give children a sense of inferiority if they do not encourage success, are
not patient, and set goals that are out -of- reach. Through positive, successful experiences at
school, children will develop pride in their work. The children now feel the need to win
approval by demonstrating specific competencies that are valued by society. (Saul Mcleod,
2013) The children should be encouraged to perform harder tasks, but not those they are
incapable of reaching with success. The caregivers should also encourage and support their
children, building a feeling of belief in their skills and abilities. Peers also become an important
part of a childs life during this stage. Children who have good friends in the neighborhood and
at school are more likely to build confidence at this early age.
During this stage my parents and my grandparents always made sure I could handle
school and my social interactions. My mother had to get me a tutor for math once, which helped
me be more successful. My grandfather always made sure I had breakfast every morning before
school, and he always made sure I got there on time. When I got home I was always told to do
my homework before I could do anything else. My social interactions turned into sleepovers
with friends, playing sports, together all out side of school. My parents always kept in touch
with my teachers and kept a close eye on my progress. I was allowed numerous opportunities to
interact in and out of school and my family was always open to making sure I had lots of
opportunities to succeed. Being given opportunities both in and outside of school helped build a
strong sense of confidence and industry in me.

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Stage 5- Identity vs. Role Confusion

Stage 5 ranges from 12 to 18 years old; the teen years and a time of independence. Teens
will start to explore their independence. Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal
identity. (Kendra Cherry, 2014) Probably the most important aspect of this stage is peers and
peer pressure. Teens who cannot find a place to fit in may become insecure about themselves,
developing a sense of confusion. Teens who always cave to peer pressure, even though it is not
something they would normally do, will also find themselves feeling confused. When teenagers
are able to make their own decisions, stand up for what they believe in, and make up their own
minds, they build a strong personal identity. Another aspect in this stage is the changes in the
human body, and many teens are very uncomfortable during this time. The confusion about these
issues is sometimes seen in eating disorders, sexual orientation, and overall low self- esteem.
However, by the end of this stage, most teens are able to overcome these issues to enter
positively in the next stage. The third important aspect of this stage is being able to look ahead.
Teens should begin thinking about their adult futures of school, career, employment, etc. A
positive identity is formed in many ways during this time, but it is one of the hardest stages of
development.
This stage is by far one of the best stages of my life. I played all kinds of sports and
made so many different types of friends. I was so involved that I was able to piece together my
life and understand between right and wrong. I had friends making choices that I knew were bad
and my parents would disprove of and those were the friends I only associated with at school.
The friends I made during this time are still some of my best friends today. I also got my first
job during this stage. It helped me learn a sense of responsibility and structure in my life. I felt
like I was on top of the world with the activities I was involved in, my supportive family, my job,

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and my friends. I had such a strong support system that I knew I was lined up for success. Even
with all of the guidance I had along the way, I still hit rough patches. I started to lie to my
parents around 17 and 18. Some of my friends liked to party and I knew my parents would not
approve, so I did it behind their backs. However, I was raised so well and supported so much
that it made me feel guilty and I quit doing it behind their back. I gained their respect, made
good choices and knew right then that I had built the right path for my life.

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Stage 6- Intimacy vs. Isolation

Stage 6 is from ages 19 to 40 years old. During this stage adults are starting to build
relationships with other people. Erikson believed that it is vital that people develop close,
committed relationships with other people. We explore relationships leading toward longer term
commitments with someone other than a family member. (Saul Mcleod, 2013) Young adults
made friendships in the past, but these kinds of relationships are more personal, intimate, and
loving. It is essential to have the ability to build and keep close, intimate relationships with
others. The adult will need to have trust and a good sense of self, in order to build and keep
these types of relationships. These are not the friends we see at school or go to a movie with
once in a while; they are the friends we share ourselves and our secrets with. When we learn to
really share ourselves with others, we accomplish a sense of intimacy. Adults, who are unable
(due to trust or other issues) to completely share themselves with a few other people, will
generally have trouble keeping an intimate relationship, which leads to isolation, loneliness, and
depression.
I am just 3 years into this stage and have experienced a life during this stage that many
probably have not. I am a single mother of a 1-year-old little boy; I live with his father and his
other two children that he has custody of. I am the only financial supporter in the household and
work really hard to make sure we have everything we need. The relationship I have developed
with my boyfriend is not a good one. I have learned that developing an intimate and loving
relationship takes both people involved to be at the same place in their life. If one person is
trying and the other one does not it just causes stress, drama, and unhappiness. I am the type of
person that likes to work things out. I am trying to work things out with the father of my son and
be happy. I have noticed that it has taken him a lot longer than me to even get where he is today.

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It is all in the way we were raised. He was basically raised by his mother his whole life and he
was probably not praised and encouraged along the way as he should have been. My parents and
step parents on the other hand raised me. I was encouraged and loved and that is why I
consider myself so much more confident and mature than he is. I have realized that during this
stage people are in different parts of their lives. Some are ready, like me, and others are still lost
and trying to find their way. Although life is not perfect, I have nothing but high hopes for this
stage!

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Stage 7- Generativity vs. Stagnation

This stage ranges from ages 40 to 65 years old, when people are looking to create things
for their children or people who will outlive them. People establish careers, settle down within a
relationship, begin their families and develop a sense of being part of a bigger picture. (Saul
Mcleod, 2013) They try and give back to their community through raising a family, maintaining
a successful career, and/ or serving for positive changes. Adults at this age are trying to create
their mark in the world. Generativity is gained when middle- aged feel like they have given
something positive to society; stagnation is the result of middle age drifting.
During this stage I know that I will follow in my parents and grandparents footsteps.
They were and still are active in their community, and I know I will be active because I am
already an active member and I love the feeling of accomplishment. I do not like the feeling of
disappointment and I know that I will not allow myself to be in that situation. I know that I will
be working hard to make sure my kids have everything they will need. I will also make sure that
they understand the value of life and what they need to do to become involved. I am involved
now by coaching sports! I love doing it and I know as my children grow, that I will continue to
coach them in whatever they do. I coach because I know that it helps children stay on a healthy
path. It gives them something to do and helping them learn and stay out of trouble is a huge
thing for me. Becoming a teacher will also keep me involved within the community. I will be
welcome to express my ideas in the school district. I think being a teacher is a great way of
being involved because I will be meeting tons of people throughout the community. They will
get to know me as their child goes to school and will see the kind of person I am. I will just hope
that my good character will guide them to become the same way.

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Stage 8- Integrity vs. Despair

This stage ranges from the age of 65 to the end of life. During this stage, seniors will
either reflect on a life of fulfillment or regret. If they reflect back on a life, joy, happiness, and
achievements, they will live their last days with integrity and gain the virtue of wisdom and a
feeling of satisfaction. These individuals generally do not fear impending death; they see it as a
natural part of life. However, if they look back on a life filled with bitter regrets and
disappointments, they will live in despair and tend to fear the thought of death. (Saul Mcleod,
2013)
I think I will have a sense of fulfillment when I am that age. I know if I follow in my
familys footsteps that I will feel that satisfaction. I may have some minor regrets because I
already do about quitting sports in high school, but I will never feel like my whole life was filled
with regrets. I know that I do everything I can for my kids now, which will never change. I will
do everything possible to make sure they live their lives the same way as mine with confidence,
energy, and joy.
I am afraid of death because it is unknown, but hope that when I get closer, I can accept
it. My grandpa always told me to be by his side when he died, that it would make it easier on
him. I was there but it scared me tremendously. I hope that if I can make something of my life
and have that feeling of accomplishment, I will be at ease when the time comes. My grandpa left
this world strong and I want to follow in his footsteps. I hope I can have that one person with me
like my grandma, mom, and I were there for him when he passed. I think the way my life is
headed will give me the courage to deal with it when it is my time. No regrets, just happiness
and the people I love surrounding me will put me in my happy place and I will be ok!

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Conclusion

Learning about Eriksons theory and eight stages have been vital for my understanding of
human development. I have been better able to understand my life, looking at the positives and
the negatives, and what has made me who I am today. These stages have helped me understand
the process of life in such a clearer view, allowing me to explore my life in a way I did not know
existed. Eriksons stages has also helped me realize the stage of development my child is
currently in, and be able to help him with positive outcomes. I am excited to apply this
knowledge to my future students! I plan on assisting each one of them to become the best person
they can be, and this project has given me a good foundation for accomplishing this goal.

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References

Sharkey, Wendy (1997). Erik Erikson. Retrieved from

http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/erikson.htm
Mcleod, Saul (2012). Simply Psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html
Cherry, Kendra (2014). Psychology. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/psychosocialtheories/a/psychosocial.htm