(EST-101)
Block 2 of 4
Lecture 1: Erik Eriksons
Psychosocial Theory
In Short:
Erik Eriksons psychosocial theory is
oA lifelong process.
oIdentity changes over lifetime
oIndividuals must take responsibility for their
own lives
oIdentity develops over 8 stages of life.
oSuccessful passing through each crisis involves
achieving a balance between the 2 emotional
forces
oOR
oFailing to develop that quality = the negative
outcomes arising from an unhelpful experience
through each of the crisis stages.
Trust
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
Vs
Mistrust
Infancy
0 months to 1& half years
Parents
feeding and being
comforted, teething,
sleeping
Vs
Mistrust
Mistrust
Vs
Strength
Autonom
y
Vs
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
Autonom
y
oAutonomy =selfreliance.
oToddlers have
developed the capacity
to move about and do
many things on their
own.
oIf they are allowed to
use these emerging
skills under judicious
guidance,
encouragement from
Vs
o If they experience
an environment in
which adults do not
allow them or
punish them for
exploring their
environment, they
are likely to
develop a sense of
shame and doubt
about their own
behaviors
Autonom
y
Vs
Strength
Guilt
Vs
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
preschool
3-6 years
Other family
exploration and discovery,
adventure and play
Guilt
Initiative
Strength
Guilt
Purpose & Direction
(decision-making, working
with and leading others,
initiating projects and
ideas, able to take
initiative and appropriate
risks)
Inferiority
Industriousness
Vs
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
schoolchil
d
5-12 yrs, early school
school
achievement and
accomplishment
Industriousness
oIndustry = purposeful or
meaningful activity.
oParents must encourage,
teachers must care, peers
must accept.
oChildren want to win
recognition and praise
through the things they do. If
this occurs, they develop a
sense of industry
Vs
Inferiority
Industriousness
Vs
Strength
Competence (making
Role
confusion
identity
Vs
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
adolescent
11-18 yrs, puberty, teens
earlier for girls
peers
resolving identity and direction,
becoming a grown-up
Role
confusion
oIdentity (Ego-Identity)
oRole Confusion
=develop a desire for
(Identity-Crisis) =
independence from
Vs failure to achieve
parents, achieve physical
ego-identity feeling
maturity and are
like you dont belong,
concerned with the
dont know who you
question of "who they will
are or what you want
become.
to do -- about who
As they feel insecure about themselves
they are and what they will become -- adolescents
become highly dependent upon the peer group for
support and susceptible to peer pressure. This is one
of the factors underlying the high prevalence of
alcohol and drug use and of gang participation among
Strength
Role
confusion
Fidelity (seeing useful
personal role(s) and
purpose(s) in life)
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
isolation
VS
.
young
young
adult
18-40, courting, early
parenthood
isolation
VS
o Intimacy = during young . o Isolation - failure
adulthood in our society,
individuals are expected
to establish a close and
committed relationship
with another person
Strength
to do this typically
leads to a sense of
isolation.
o inability to
establish intimacy
Generativity
VS.
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
RANGE :
RELATIONSHIPS:
ISSUES:
mid-adult
30-65, middle age, parenting
children
'giving back', helping,
contributing
stagnation
Strength
Despair
VS.
LIFE STAGE :
AGE
late adult
RANGE :
Integrity
Ego integrity =
looking back on life
with a sense of
fulfillment &
satisfaction
oNo regrets .
Strength
VS.
Wisdom (calmness,
tolerance, peace of mind,
non-judgemental,
acceptance of death)
Conclusions
o The psychoanalytic perspective has two
theories; Freuds psychosexual theory and
Eriksons psychosocial theory.
o The Psychoanalytic Perspective has
emphasized on the individuals unique life
history as worthy of study
o In this view the psychoanalytic theorists
accept the clinical method which gathers
information from a variety of sources to
understand the personality of a single child
o It has also provided research on many aspects
of development, sibling relationship, child
rearing practices, morality, gender roles and
adolescents identify.