Erik Erikson's
PsychosocialStage
I'm Erik Erikson
• He was an ego psychologist who developed one of the
most popular and influential theories of development.
• He theorized that there's a specific psychological
struggle that takes place through the eight stages of a
person's life. These struggles, he believed, contribute to
your personality throughout your development.
Overview of
Erikson's Stages of
Development
• Unlike Freud's theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson's theory
described the impact of social experience across the whole
lifespan.
• Erikson's theory was based on what is known as the epigenetic
principle. This principle suggests that people grow in a sequence
that occurs over time and in the context of a larger community.
• Each stage in Erikson's theory builds on the preceding stages and
paves the way for following periods of development. In each stage,
Erikson believed people experience a conflict that serves as a
turning point in development.
Erikson’s 8 Stages of Development
STAGE 1 — INFANCY.
During this stage, development centers
around trust and mistrust.
STAGE 2 — EARLY CHILDHOOD
OR TODDLERHOOD
During this stage, which begins at 18
months old and lasts until age two or three,
your toddler's development focuses on
autonomy versus shame or doubt.
STAGE 3 — PRESCHOOL
Development at this stage centers around
initiative and guilt. This stage begins at age
three and lasts until age five.
Stage 4 — School Age or Early
school years
Here, development centers around industry
and inferiority. This stage begins at age six and
lasts till age 11. During this stage, your child's
becoming aware of their individuality.
Stage 5 — Adolescence
At this stage, development centers around
identity and role confusion. This stage begins at
around age 12 and lasts till age 18. When you
hear the psychological term “identity crisis,” it
comes from this stage of development.
Stage 6 — Young adulthood
At this stage, intimacy and isolation are the
focus of development. This stage begins at age
19 and lasts until age 40. During this time in
your life, you are establishing and building
upon relationships
Stage 7 — Middle adulthood
The development in this stage is around
generativity and stagnation or self-absorption.
This stage begins at age 40 and lasts till age 65.
When you feel a sense of care and responsibility,
it’s called generativity.
Stage 8 — Late adulthood
The final stage of the developmental process
proposed by Erikson centers around ego
integrity and despair. This stage begins at age
65 and lasts throughout the rest of your life. If
you’re satisfied with your life, you age with grace.
Strengths and Weaknesses
of Erikson's Theory
1. Criticism
- One major weakness of psychosocial theory is
that the exact mechanisms for resolving conflicts
and moving from one stage to the next are not
well described or developed.
2. Support
- One of the strengths of psychosocial theory is
that it provides a broad framework from which to
view development throughout the entire lifespan.
Why was the theory important ?
The theory was significant because it addressed development
throughout a person's life, not just during childhood. It also stressed the
importance of social relationships in shaping personality and growth at
each point in development.
Thank you
