Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Approximate Age

Description of Developmental Task

Infancy

(1st Year)

Trust vs. Mistrust: During the first year, babies are torn between trusting and mistrusting their parents. If the baby’s needs are dependably met, they will develop a sense of basic trust in the predictability of their environment. Otherwise, frustrated infants may become suspicious, fearful, and overly concerned about security.

Toddler

(2nd Year)

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt: Due to children’s growing physical development, they begin to have greater contact with their surroundings. They learn to hold things, manipulate objects, and control their excretory functions. If a child repeatedly fails to master skills during this stage, the child may experience self-doubt and shame.

Preschooler

(3-5 years)

Initiative vs. Guilt: Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks, carry out plans, and undertake new projects. Parental support for these initiatives can lead to a sense of joy in the children. However, if children are unable to acquire a sense of initiative, they may develop strong feelings of guilt, unworthiness, and resentment.

Elementary School

(6 years to puberty)

Competence (or "Industry") vs. Inferiority: At home and school, children encounter a new set of expectations. They need the skills to become fully-functioning adults. If the are unable to meet these expectations, they may conclude that they are inadequate, mediocre, or inferior and lose faith in their power to become competent.

Adolescence

(teen years into early 20’s)

Identity vs. Role Confusion: At puberty, childhood ends and adulthood begins. The critical problem at this stage is to find one’s identity. Failure to forge an identity leads to role confusion and despair.

Young Adulthood

(20’s to early 40’s)

Intimacy vs. Isolation: During this stage, men and women must learn to be intimate (physically and emotionally) with another adult. Usually, this occurs in the form of marriage. Erikson felt we must have resolved earlier developmental issues in order to become intimate. To form an intimate relationship, lovers must be trusting, autonomous, capable of initiative, and must understand themselves. Failure at intimacy can bring a painful sense of loneliness and isolation.

Middle Adulthood

(40’s to 60’s)

Generativity vs. Stagnation: During this stage, the challenge is to remain productive and creative in all aspects of one’s life. People who have successfully negotiated the earlier 6 stages are likely to find meaning and joy in all aspects of their lives—career, family, community, etc. For others, life becomes a drab routine.

Late Adulthood

(Late 60’s and up)

Integrity vs. Despair: As people get older, they must come to terms with the approach of death. People who have gained full maturity by resolving earlier stages possess the integrity to face death with a minimum of fear.

 


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