Erikson's Theory Of Psychosocial Development
Erikson’s theory is divided into eight developmental stages which concentrated on the emergence of the self or the ego. Each stage represents a period where specific adversities or challenges are faced which Erikson refer to as conflicts (Svetina, 2014). The ability to overcome or resolve these conflicts produces a psychosocial strength and a shift in the developmental process. In contrast, if a conflict is not successfully resolved, Erikson theorised that future developmental stages are impact. The psychosocial developmental areas hold both negative and positive aspects as an individual seeks to find an equilibrium.
Trust versus mistrust
The first five stages of Erikson’s model, cover infancy through adolescence. Each stage is marked by a …show more content…
This occurs from eighteen months through three years of age. Erikson believed that during this stage a child develops a sense of what is good and what is bad in terms of their own identity (Capps, 2012). Attaining autonomy denotes a sense of pride and independence where a child learns that certain actions can has positive influences. In contrast to autonomy, a child may feel ashamed and doubt their ability to act independently. The psychosocial strength that develops through increased independence is what Erikson refers to as will. According to Merriam-Webster (2014) will is “used to express determination, insistence, persistence, or willfulness” and highlights their freedom of choice and …show more content…
At this stage a child develops a sense of initiative whereby they begin to interact, make judgements and assert more control over their world. The pursuit of goals and the ability to imagine, provide a child with a sense of purpose. At the age of three through six years a child is developing their identity in terms of gender, interactions with peers and self-esteem (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010). Although still ego-centric at this point, a child’s self-esteem and purpose are important strengths to understanding the dynamics of engagement, morals and behaviours. Children who find themselves in conflicting situations as a result of their initiative may experience guilt. Guilt that develops in this stage may impact a child later on in life when having to exercise control or can initiative when performing a task. Furthermore, guilt can effect self-esteem and one’s ability to engage appropriately with their
Trust versus mistrust
The first five stages of Erikson’s model, cover infancy through adolescence. Each stage is marked by a …show more content…
This occurs from eighteen months through three years of age. Erikson believed that during this stage a child develops a sense of what is good and what is bad in terms of their own identity (Capps, 2012). Attaining autonomy denotes a sense of pride and independence where a child learns that certain actions can has positive influences. In contrast to autonomy, a child may feel ashamed and doubt their ability to act independently. The psychosocial strength that develops through increased independence is what Erikson refers to as will. According to Merriam-Webster (2014) will is “used to express determination, insistence, persistence, or willfulness” and highlights their freedom of choice and …show more content…
At this stage a child develops a sense of initiative whereby they begin to interact, make judgements and assert more control over their world. The pursuit of goals and the ability to imagine, provide a child with a sense of purpose. At the age of three through six years a child is developing their identity in terms of gender, interactions with peers and self-esteem (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010). Although still ego-centric at this point, a child’s self-esteem and purpose are important strengths to understanding the dynamics of engagement, morals and behaviours. Children who find themselves in conflicting situations as a result of their initiative may experience guilt. Guilt that develops in this stage may impact a child later on in life when having to exercise control or can initiative when performing a task. Furthermore, guilt can effect self-esteem and one’s ability to engage appropriately with their