Erikson Theory to your own life. Please be specific with regard to the developmental tasks that were addressed or not addressed during each developmental stage.
Apply Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory to your own life. Please be specific with regard to the developmental tasks that were addressed or not addressed during each developmental stage.
You will need to explore in more detail the indicators, processes, and descriptors of the tasks in order to complete this assignment. In doing so, be descriptive and avoid judgments about yourself or others.
You are to demonstrate a solid knowledge of Erikson’s Theory and the ability to apply this theory.
There will a few stages that you have not yet experienced. Please address them, however, by referring to someone you know who has experienced or is currently experiencing them.
*In addition to information you use from our textbook pages 99-100 in the 5th edition; pages 23-25 in the 6th edition), please research one other source (not Wikipedia). Include a Reference Page at the end. The Reference Page does not count in the total number of pages.
Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist who developed one of the most popular and influential theories of development. While his theory was impacted by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud’s work, Erikson’s theory centered on psychosocial development rather than psychosexual development.
The stages that make up his theory are as follows:1
Let’s take a closer look at the background and different stages that make up Erikson’s psychosocial theory.
So what exactly did Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development entail? Much like Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that personality developed in a series of stages.
Unlike Freud’s theory of psychosexual stages, however, Erikson’s theory described the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. Erikson was interested in how social interaction and relationships played a role in the development and growth of human beings.
Erikson’s theory was based on what is known as the epigenetic principle. This principle suggests that people grow in a sequence that occurs over time and in the context of a larger community.
Each stage in Erikson’s theory builds on the preceding stages and paves the way for following periods of development. In each stage, Erikson believed people experience a conflict that serves as a turning point in development.2
In Erikson’s view, these conflicts are centered on either developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. During these times, the potential for personal growth is high but so is the potential for failure.
If people successfully deal with the conflict, they emerge from the stage with psychological strengths that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.3 If they fail to deal effectively with these conflicts, they may not develop the essential skills needed for a strong sense of self.
Erikson also believed that a sense of competence motivates behaviors and actions. Each stage in Erikson’s theory is concerned with becoming competent in an area of life.
If the stage is handled well, the person will feel a sense of mastery, which is sometimes referred to as ego strength or ego quality. If the stage is managed poorly, the person will emerge with a sense of inadequacy in that aspect of development.
Psychosocial Stages: A Summary Chart | |||
---|---|---|---|
Age | Conflict | Important Events | Outcome |
Infancy (birth to 18 months) | Trust vs. Mistrust | Feeding | Hope |
Early Childhood (2 to 3 years) | Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt | Toilet Training | Will |
Preschool (3 to 5 years) | Initiative vs. Guilt | Exploration | Purpose |
School Age (6 to 11 years) | Industry vs. Inferiority | School | Confidence |
Adolescence (12 to 18 years) | Identity vs. Role Confusion | Social Relationships | Fidelity |
Young Adulthood (19 to 40 years) | Intimacy vs. Isolation | Relationships | Love |
Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years) | Generativity vs. Stagnation | Work and Parenthood | Care |
Maturity (65 to death) | Ego Integrity vs. Despair | Reflection on Life | Wisdom |