BAHRAIN TEACHERS COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAIN Psychosocial development Erikson s theory Professor Adnan Farah ERIKSON THEORY OF PSYCHO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY Erikson's stages of psychosocial developmentas presented by Erik Eriksonexplain eightstagesthrough which a healthily developing humanshould pass from infancyto late adulthood. In each stage the person confronts, and hopefully overcomes different challenges. Each stagebuilds on the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future. Assumptions in Erikson s Theory 1. People have the same basic needs. 2. The development of the self is a response to those needs. 3. Each stage of development is characterized by a psychosocial challenge, called a crisis, that presents opportunities for development. 4. Each stagebuilds on the successful completion of earlier stages 5. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future. ١
stages of psychosocial development Psychosocial Crisis Stage Life Stage 1. Trust Vs. Mistrust Infancy 2. Autonomy Vs. Shame and Doubt Early Childhood age range and other descriptions 0-1½ yrs, baby, birth to walking 1-3 yrs, toddler, toilet training 3. Initiative Vs. Guilt Play Age 3-6 yrs, pre-school, nursery 4. Industry Vs. Inferiority School Age 5-12 yrs, early school 5. Identity Vs. Role Confusion Adolescence 9-18 yrs, puberty, teens 18-40, courting, early 6. Intimacy Vs. Isolation Young Adult parenthood 30-65, middle age, 7. Generativity Vs. Stagnation Adulthood parenting 8. Integrity Vs. Despair Mature Age 65+, old age, grandparents Basic Conflict, Important Events and Outcomes Stage Infancy (birth to 18 months) Early Childhood (2 to 3 Preschool (3 to 5 School Age (6 to 11 Basic Conflict Trust Mistrust Autonomy Shame and Doubt Initiative Guilt Industry Inferiority Important Events Feeding Outcome Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliability, care, and affection. A lack of this will lead to mistrust. Toilet Training Children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of independence. Success leads to feelings of autonomy, failure results in feelings of shame and doubt. Exploration Children need to begin asserting control over the environment. Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt. School Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. Basic Conflict, Important Events and Outcomes Stage Adolescence (12 to 18 Young Adulthood (19 to 40 Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 Maturity(65 to death) Basic Conflict Identity Role Confusion Important Events Outcome Social Teens needs to develop a sense of self and Relationshipspersonal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. Intimacy RelationshipsYoung adults need to form intimate, loving Isolation relationships with other people. Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation. Generativity Stagnation Ego Integrity Despair Work and Adults need to create or nurture things that Parenthood will survive them, often by having children or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the world. Reflection on Older adults need to look back on life and Life feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair. ٢
Stage\ Crisis 1. trust Nurture and mistrust care for your child during the infancy. Support Positive Results Negative Results A child will develop optimism and trust if he receives consistent love and attention from both parents and guardians. A child who does not receive adequate care may experience depression, withdrawal and possibly even paranoia later in life. 2.autonomy shame. Guide the child gradually and firmly early childhood. Help them build self-esteem and independence as they learn new skills, and the difference between right and wrong. Erikson cautions against overly permissive and harsh parenting styles, which may lead the child to be overly impulsive or experience extreme shame and doubt. 3. initiative guilt. Support the child's initiative and help him achieve his goals during the preschool. During these years, a child also becomes curious about people and starts modeling adult behavior. A firm, but fair, parenting style will help the child to have social role identification. ٣
4. industry inferiority Support the child during the school age. Help them to learn new skills and knowledge and develop a sense of competence. The child will start developing relationships outside the family unit. Erikson cautions against overinvolved and under-involved parents. Both parenting styles can result in feelings of inferiority. 5. identity role confusion. Allow the teenager to discover and find his own identity adolescent. As he struggles with social interactions, he develops a sense of Identity and morality and discovers his purpose in life. If an adolescent fails to resolve his "identity crisis, he may experience role confusion or join cults and other resistance groups. 6. intimacy isolation. Connect with others, emotionally and physically, young adult. Most young adults will find satisfying relationships. If unsuccessful, isolation or promiscuity may occur. ٤
7. generativity stagnation Contribute to your family, workplace and community middle-aged adult. Adults who have a strong sense of success and creativity develop (generativity) or the ability to make a positive difference and build a legacy for the future. Major life shifts also may occur during this stage, empty nests, aging, family and or career changes and critical illnesses. 8. integrity despair. Reflect late adult. Adults who have led meaningful lives can look back and experience few if any, regrets. They can calmly accept successes and failures, aging and loss. Others may experience despair and fear death as they reflect upon their past experiences and failures. Some points to consider in looking at the Erikson s stages 1. No one permanently resolves a crisis. 2. People do not remain at a stage if the crisis isn t permanently resolved. 3. Less than ideal resolutions of crises at particular stages leaves individual s with personality problems. 4. The effectiveness of the resolution of crises determines emotional health. ٥
Refection Personal Reflections on Psychosocial development In 1½ to 2 double-spaced typedpages, based on the psychosocial theory, answer the following questions: a. Which stage of development does the theory predict you are currently facing? b. Discuss to what extent that developmental stage "as described by the theory" is truly and accurately reflects the changes and challenges you are facing in your life especially at the psychosocial levels. Do you feel that the previous stage of development or the stage following would better reflect your current life circumstances? (Express your feelings and discuss your opinion). Refection Discuss the developmental tasks and psychosocial crisis at your current stage of development, or life circumstances. (It may be helpful to review the relevant material related to these tasks and crisis). What are the most difficult years of development in your life so far? Discuss the challenges you have encountered at those years. What is the stage of development that you are looking forward to? Discussion is optional. What is the stage of development that you are afraid of? Discussion is optional. ٦