Erikson’s Theory and series of stages of Personality

Erikson’s Theory

•Erikson gave the theory of Psychosocial development.

What is Psychosocial development?Personality is developed from what a person learns from social

interaction.

• Like Sigmund Freud Erikson believed, that development of personality based on series of stages.

1. Trust vs. Mistrust

2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

3. Initiative vs. Guilt

4. Industry vs. Inferiority

5. Identity vs. Confusion

6. Intimacy vs. Isolation

7. Generatively vs. Stagnation

8. Integrity vs. Despair

• Key element of Erikson’s theory is Ego Identity.

Ego Identity

Conscious sense develops through social interaction.• It does not remains constant due to experience and knowledge.

• All the stages that Erikson has described, have a sense of competency. If these stages pass successfully, person feels sense of mastery. This increase ego strength

• If all these stages pass poorly, person feels a sense of incomplete.

• Erikson also described that there is conflict in the development stages . That conflict could be the turning point of the person.

1. Trust vs. Mistrust

• This is the first stage of psychosocial development occurs between birth and one year.

• Because a infant is utterly dependent, therefore the development of trust depends upon the quality of children’s caregivers.

• If child successfully develop trust, he feels secure. • If caregivers are inconsistent and emotionally unavailable

that could develop a sense of mistrust in the children. For this sense of mistrust children perceive the world is unpredictable and in consistent.

2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

• Personal control which is the second stage. That occurs in the early childhood.

• Like Freud, Erikson also believe that toilet training is the vital part of that stage. This stage develop the sense of control and independence.

• If this stage complete successfully this could develop a sense of confident. Conversely child will face sense of self doubt and inadequacy.

3. Initiative vs. Guilt

• Third stage is the preschool years, where children start to assert their power and control over the world.

• If this stage pass successfully they develop the ability to lead others.

• Sense of guilty and self doubt develop if the stage does not pass successfully.

4. Industry vs. Inferiority

• This stage is based on early school from 5 to 10 years of age.• Children feel pride on their accomplishment and abilities

when they interact with other in the society.• If the children are encouraged from their teachers and

parents, they feel sense of competence and develop belief on their own abilities.

• On the other hand if children are not encouraged they can not develop belief on their own abilities.

5. Identity vs. Confusion

• During adolescence, children are exploring their independence and developing a sense of self.

• Due to proper encouragement strong sense of self can be developed in a children.

• Conversely children will face confusion if he/she does not encourage.

6. Intimacy vs. Isolation

• This is the early adulthood stage, when a person explore their personal relationship.

• Erikson believed that a person want to make more close and committed relations in this age.

• If this happens that person feels more secure. • Erikson believed that the persons who have poor sense of self,

can not make close relation to others. They are isolated.

7. Generatively vs. Stagnation

• During adulthood we build our self on focusing on our family and career.

• The person who passes successfully through this phrase they developed a sense that they contributed well in world and for family.

• Oppositely person feel that they are unproductively.

8. Integrity vs. Despair

• This is the stage of the person’s old age. In which he/she thinks about the past life span.

• Those who unsuccessfully pass through this phrase, feel that they wasted their past life.

• And those who feel proud on their accomplishment, they face sense of integrity. They feel sense of satisfaction from their past life.