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