ERICKSON’S ERICKSON’S PSYCHOSOCIAL PSYCHOSOCIAL

THEORYTHEORY

Senior ExperienceSenior Experience

INFANCY- 0-1/2 YEARSINFANCY- 0-1/2 YEARS Learns to trust those around him/her Learns to trust those around him/her

or they suffer feelings of mistrustor they suffer feelings of mistrust Learns to feel secure that when they Learns to feel secure that when they

cry, his/her needs will be met. cry, his/her needs will be met. (TRUST)(TRUST) Learns to feel insecure that when Learns to feel insecure that when

he/she cries, his/her needs are he/she cries, his/her needs are notnot met. met.

(MISTRUST)(MISTRUST)

EARLY CHILDHOOD- EARLY CHILDHOOD- 1 1/2-3 YEARS 1 1/2-3 YEARS

Child tries to become autonomous Child tries to become autonomous and gain control over their body.and gain control over their body.

They are proud of him/herself as They are proud of him/herself as he/she masters potty training he/she masters potty training

(Autonomy)(Autonomy) They feel shame and doubt when They feel shame and doubt when

he/she experiences a difficult task. he/she experiences a difficult task. (Shame/Doubt)(Shame/Doubt)

PLAY AGE -3-5 YEARSPLAY AGE -3-5 YEARS This is the age of being curious This is the age of being curious

and asking many questions.and asking many questions. They will be praised and They will be praised and

encouraged for their efforts encouraged for their efforts (Initiative)(Initiative) They will feel guilty and told to be They will feel guilty and told to be

quiet and not ask questions quiet and not ask questions (Guilt)(Guilt)

SCHOOL AGE-5-12 YEARSSCHOOL AGE-5-12 YEARS Learning new knowledge and skills.Learning new knowledge and skills. They will feel industrious as they They will feel industrious as they

learn to read, write and do math.learn to read, write and do math. (Industry)(Industry) They will feel inferior when they They will feel inferior when they

belong in the low reading group belong in the low reading group and receives poor grades. and receives poor grades.

(Inferiority)(Inferiority)

ADOLESCENCE-12-18 ADOLESCENCE-12-18 YEARSYEARS

One of the most important stages One of the most important stages for success in life.for success in life.

The adolescent either begins to The adolescent either begins to determine who they are and what determine who they are and what they want out of lifethey want out of life

(Identity and Reputation)(Identity and Reputation) They grapple with an identity crisis. They grapple with an identity crisis. (Identity Confusion)(Identity Confusion)

YOUNG ADULT-18-25YOUNG ADULT-18-25 Once the young person knows who Once the young person knows who

they are, they are ready to share they are, they are ready to share themselves with another person.themselves with another person.

They are ready for an intimate They are ready for an intimate relationship and start a family relationship and start a family

(Intimacy and Solidarity)(Intimacy and Solidarity) They may feel isolated and not They may feel isolated and not

connected to society. connected to society. (Isolation)(Isolation)

Unfortunately, some Unfortunately, some young people want to young people want to

move into the intimacy move into the intimacy stage before they have stage before they have mastered the identity mastered the identity

crisis.crisis.

ADULTHOOD-(25-65)ADULTHOOD-(25-65) In the prime of adult years, people In the prime of adult years, people

will be productive and contribute to will be productive and contribute to society. society.

(Generativity)(Generativity) If they aren’t productive, they will If they aren’t productive, they will

become self-absorbed and negative become self-absorbed and negative (Self-absorption)(Self-absorption)

MATURITY (65+ years)MATURITY (65+ years) As a person nears the end of life they As a person nears the end of life they

will feel a sense of accomplishment will feel a sense of accomplishment that their life made a difference. that their life made a difference.

(Integrity)(Integrity) They may feel despair and regret for They may feel despair and regret for

all the things they did or did not do. all the things they did or did not do. (Despair)(Despair)