Transcript Document

Chapter 15:
Erikson’s
psychosocial
stages of
development
Differences between Freud & Erikson
Freud
Erikson
 Emphasis on the
unconscious - the id
 Focus on the adaptive abilities
of the ego
 Prioritised the sexual level
of development
 Prioritised the social level of
development
 Oriented to explaining causes
of psychopathology
 Oriented to constructive &
progressive resolutions
 Behavioural & interactional
patterns set in early life
 Much important development
takes place after the first 6
years of life
Basic assumptions of Erikson’s theory
1. The epigenetic approach
Psychosocial development follows a
pre-determined schedule
2. Virtues
* Psychosocial values that are the outcome of
the healthy resolution of developmental crises
* An indication of growing ego-strength
3. Ongoing & cumulative development
* Crises are presented throughout the life of
the individual
* Each stage is reliant, to a degree, on the
successful negotiation of the earlier stages
The first five stages of psychosocial
development
Stage 5: identity versus role confusion
Stage 4: industry versus inferiority
Stage 3: initiative versus guilt
Stage 2: autonomy versus shame & doubt
Stage 1: basic trust versus basic mistrust
Stage 1:
basic trust versus basic mistrust
Stage 1: Trust vs Mistrust & Doubt
Age:
Birth to 12-18 months (infancy).
Freudian stage:
Oral stage
Virtue:
Hope
Activity:
Intake of food. Oral sensory activities
Goal:
Reduction of tension. Attaining basic
equilibrium
Mal-adaptations:
Masochistic, depressive, schizoid
personality, psychosis.
Significant persons: Maternal person
Stage 1:
basic trust versus basic mistrust
Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame
Age:
12-18 months to 3 years (toddlerhood)
Freudian stage:
Anal stage
Virtue:
Will
Activity:
Muscular control (anal control)
Goal:
Attain basic sense of independence,
free choice, and will
Mal-adaptations:
Aggressivity, cruelty, intolerance,
antisocial personality disorder
Significant persons: Paternal person
Stage 1:
basic trust versus basic mistrust
Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt
Age:
3 to 6 years (early childhood)
Freudian stage:
Phallic stage
Virtue:
Purpose
Activity:
Locomotion & genital activity
Exploration and play
Goal:
Meet challenges of social environment;
take responsibility for self
Mal-adaptations:
Rigidity, inhibition, self-consciousness
Recklessness, showing-off, risk-taking
Significant persons: Basic family
The effects of domestic violence on
psychosocial development in children
A violent parent or violence in the home
threatens children’s ability to resolve the
crises of:

trust vs mistrust (stage 1)

autonomy vs shame/doubt (stage 2)

initiative vs guilt (stage 3)
Stage 1:
basic trust versus basic mistrust
Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority
Age:
6 to 11 years
Freudian stage:
Latency
Virtue:
Industriousness & skill
Activity:
Systematic instruction & education
Goal:
Technological proficiency;
ability to use tools
Mal-adaptations:
Inferiority complexes, low selfesteem, unworthiness & incompetence
Significant persons: Neighbourhood & school
Stage 1:
basic trust versus basic mistrust
Stage 5: Identity vs Role Confusion
Age:
Adolescence
Freudian stage:
Genital stage
Virtue:
Fidelity
Activity:
Decide on occupation, significant
other & identity
Goal:
Integration of ego identifications,
personal aptitudes, solid identity
Mal-adaptations:
Social withdrawal / isolation, psychotic
episode, delinquency, antisocial
Significant persons: Peer groups & in- and out- groups
Identity Formation in Adolescence

Moratorium:

Ego Diffusion:

Foreclosure:

Negative Identity:
a time of experimentation with
different ideologies & careers, which will ultimately be
resolved with a firm choice of identity
the inability to settle on a stable &
well-founded sense of self
where self-definition is attained
without exploring different possible identities
choosing an identity opposite
to on suggested by society
The final three stages of psychosocial
development
Stage 8: Ego integrity versus Despair
Stage 7: Generativity versus Stagnation
Stage 6: Intimacy versus Isolation
Stage 1:
Stage
vs Isolation
basic6:
trustIntimacy
versus basic mistrust
Age:
Young adulthood
Virtue:
Love
Activity:
Search for significant other
Goal:
Formulate a mature love. Work
productiveness
Mal-adaptations:
Competitiveness, distancing,
prejudice, self-absorption
Significant persons: Spouse, friends, family
Stage 1:
Stage 7:
Generativity
vs Stagnation
basic
trust versus basic mistrust
Age:
25 to 65 years (middle adulthood)
Virtue:
Caring
Activity:
Concern for next generation &
nature of society
Goal:
Establish & guide the next generation
Mal-adaptations:
Apathy, self-indulgence, stagnation,
hopelessness
Significant persons: Humanity
1:
StageStage
8:
Ego
Integrity
vs Despair
basic trust versus
basic mistrust
Age:
Old age
Virtue:
Wisdom
Activity:
Reflection. Participation in the
social institutions of society
Goal:
Attain ego integrity. Deal with the
fear of death
Mal-adaptations:
Disgust, feeling of irrevocable
failure, bitterness, remorse
Significant persons: Humankind
Criticisms of Erikson’s theory

More description than explanation
Better at accounting for the how than the why of
developmental changes

Idealism
Idealises descriptions of typical development

Allegations of sexism
The male as the standard of human development
The female seen only as a variation or a deviation of
the normal path of psychosocial development

Cultural bias
Exhibit a number of late 20th century American values