Erik Erikson's Eight Developmental Stages
ERIK ERIKSON’S EIGHT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
Erik Erikson was a psychological pioneer well thought out before his time. Instead of dealing in psychosexual stages, he was discussing work in terms of psychosocial stages. Heavily influence by Freud and believing that personality played a huge part in the conflict within the ego itself, Erikson was the first ego psychologist.
Believing that growth can take place well into adulthood, Erikson divided his eight stages into three that were going on simultaneously (biological, social, and psychological) and five that were developed after eighteen years of age and up. Being trained by Anna Freud, Sigmund Freud’s daughter, Erikson believed that people develop as a product of their own environments.
Trust versus mistrust was the first stage in his psychosocial development theory. Lasting from birth through eighteen months of age, this is the stage where a baby must form an attachment to their parent or caregiver. This will help them develop feelings of trust and safety. This is met through satisfying their needs for food, love, closeness, and affection. If these needs are not met, then the baby is likely going to deal with feelings of anxiety and insecurity. On the television show, Guys with Kids, there are three men raising four infant boys together. They all help one another so all of the babies always have everything that they need. This is a good example of trust versus mistrust.
Autonomy versus self-doubt lasts from eighteen months until age three to six, and is the mental exertion stage. This is where kids begin to experiment with both mental and physical activities. If parents encourage their child, they develop a positive sense of self-worth. If not, the child starts developing feelings of guilt that comes with associating new activities. A good example of this age is a child learning how to walk.
Competency versus inferiority, or industry versus inferiority, is the fourth stage of Erikson’s psychosocial
Erik Erikson was a psychological pioneer well thought out before his time. Instead of dealing in psychosexual stages, he was discussing work in terms of psychosocial stages. Heavily influence by Freud and believing that personality played a huge part in the conflict within the ego itself, Erikson was the first ego psychologist.
Believing that growth can take place well into adulthood, Erikson divided his eight stages into three that were going on simultaneously (biological, social, and psychological) and five that were developed after eighteen years of age and up. Being trained by Anna Freud, Sigmund Freud’s daughter, Erikson believed that people develop as a product of their own environments.
Trust versus mistrust was the first stage in his psychosocial development theory. Lasting from birth through eighteen months of age, this is the stage where a baby must form an attachment to their parent or caregiver. This will help them develop feelings of trust and safety. This is met through satisfying their needs for food, love, closeness, and affection. If these needs are not met, then the baby is likely going to deal with feelings of anxiety and insecurity. On the television show, Guys with Kids, there are three men raising four infant boys together. They all help one another so all of the babies always have everything that they need. This is a good example of trust versus mistrust.
Autonomy versus self-doubt lasts from eighteen months until age three to six, and is the mental exertion stage. This is where kids begin to experiment with both mental and physical activities. If parents encourage their child, they develop a positive sense of self-worth. If not, the child starts developing feelings of guilt that comes with associating new activities. A good example of this age is a child learning how to walk.
Competency versus inferiority, or industry versus inferiority, is the fourth stage of Erikson’s psychosocial
References: McLeod, SA. (2008) Erik Erikson. Psychosocial Stages: Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html Editorial Board. “Developmental Psychology”. Introduction to Psychology. 2011:95. Web. 26 May 2013. http://wow.coursesmart.com/9781934920565/firstsection#x2ludgvybmfsx0j2zgvwrmxhc2hszwfkzxi/eg1sawq9otc4mtkzndkymdu2ns85no. “Stages of Social Emotional Development-Erik Erikson”. Child Development Institute. N.d.: 1-2. Child Development Institute. Web. 26 May 2013. http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development-erikson.shtml.