Erik Erikson: The Life-Span Approach : Erik Erikson: The Life-Span Approach
Psychosocial Stages of Personality Development : Psychosocial Stages of Personality Development 8 successive stages over the lifespan
Addresses bio, social, situational, personal influences
Crisis: must adaptively or maladaptively cope with task in each developmental stage
Respond adaptively: acquire strengths needed for next developmental stage
Respond maladaptively: less likely to be able to adapt to later problems
Basic strengths: Motivating characteristics and beliefs that derive from successful resolution of crisis in each stage
Stage 1: Basic Trust vs. Mistrust : Stage 1: Basic Trust vs. Mistrust Birth to age 1
Totally dependent on others
Caregiver meets needs: child develops trust
Caregiver does not meet needs: child develops mistrust
Basic strength: Hope
Belief our desires will be satisfied
Feeling of confidence
Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt : Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Ages 1-3
Child able to exercise some degree of choice
Child’s independence is thwarted: child develops feelings of self-doubt, shame in dealing with others
Basic Strength: Will
Determination to exercise freedom of choice in face of society’s demands
Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt : Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt Ages 3-5
Child expresses desire to take initiative in activities
Parents punish child for initiative: child develops feelings of guilt that will affect self-directed activity throughout life
Basic strength: Purpose
Courage to envision and pursue goals
Stage 4: Industriousness vs. Inferiority : Stage 4: Industriousness vs. Inferiority Ages 6-11
Child develops cognitive abilities to enable in task completion (school work, play)
Parents/teachers do not support child’s efforts: child develops feelings of inferiority and inadequacy
Basci strength: Competence
Exertion of skill and intelligence in pursuing and completing tasks
Slide 7: Stages 1-4
Largely determined by others (parents, teachers)
Stages 5-8
Individual has more control over environment
Individual responsibility for crisis resolution in each stage
Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion : Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion Ages 12-18
Form ego identity: self-image
Strong sense of identity: face adulthood with certainty and confidence
Identity crisis: confusion of ego identity
Basic strength: Fidelity
Emerges from cohesive ego identity
Sincerity, genuineness, sense of duty in relationships with others
Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation : Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation Ages 18-35 (approximately)
Undertake productive work and establish intimate relationships
Inability to establish intimacy leads to social isolation
Basic strength: Love
Mutual devotion in a shared identity
Fusing of oneself with another person
Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation : Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation Ages 35-55 (approximately)
Generativity: Active involvement in teaching/guiding the next generation
Stagnation involves not seeking outlets for generativity
Basic strength: Care
Broad concern for others
Need to teach others
Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs. Despair : Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs. Despair Ages 55+
Evaluation of entire life
Integrity: Look back with satisfaction
Despair: Review with anger, frustration
Basic strength: Wisdom
Detached concern with the whole of life
Assessment in Erikson’s Theory : Assessment in Erikson’s Theory Psychohistorical Analysis
Application of lifespan theory to lives of historical figures
Psychological Tests:
Instruments based on crises in stages
Research in Erikson’s Theory : Research in Erikson’s Theory Trust
Early strong bonds with mother later were more curious, sociable and popular
Identity
Strong identity associated with greater cognitive and emotional functioning in college students
Crisis may begin later than age 12
Continuing process over the lifespan
Research in Erikson’s Theory : Research in Erikson’s Theory Generativity
Evokes need to feel closer to others
Correlated with extraversion, openness to new experiences
Likely to be involved in community, social relationships
Research in Erikson’s Theory : Research in Erikson’s Theory Maturity
High ego integrity: spent much time reviewing their lives
Ethnic Identity
Ethnic minorities: ethnic identity significant factor in determining sense of self
Contributions of Erikson : Contributions of Erikson Personality develops throughout the lifetime
Identity crisis in adolescence
Impact of social, cultural, personal and situational forces in forming personality
Criticisms of Erikson : Criticisms of Erikson Ambiguous terms and concepts
Lack of precision
Some terms are not easily measured empirically
Experiences in stage may only apply to males
Identity crisis may only apply to those affluent enough to explore identities