THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ERIK ERIKSON The psychosocial development theory was based on the development of personality. Erikson was a personality theorist and identified that we go through eight stages of development. Each stage is characterised by a psychosocial dilemma.

PSYCHOSOCIAL DILEMMA  A conflict between personal impulses and the social world.  There is a conflict at each stage of development that must be addressed.  How the conflict is managed ultimately shapes an individual’s personality.

STAGE 1: TRUST VERSUS MISTRUST (FIRST YEAR OF LIFE)  Fundamental Question: “Is my world predictable and supportive?”

STAGE 1: TRUST VERSUS MISTRUST (FIRST YEAR OF LIFE)  Infants depend completely on adults to take care of their needs.  If the needs are met, sound attachments are formed and the child should adopt an optimistic, trusting attitude to the world.  If needs are not met, a more distrusting, insecure personality will result.

STAGE 2: AUTONOMY VERSUS SHAME AND DOUBT (2-3 YEARS)  Fundamental Question: “Can I do things myself or must I always rely on others?”

STAGE 2: AUTONOMY VERSUS SHAME AND DOUBT (2-3 YEARS)  Parents begin toilet training and regulating their child.  The child must begin to take responsibility for things like eating, bathing and dressing.  If they master this stage, they acquire a sense of self-sufficiency.  If parents have problems here and are never happy with the child’s efforts, a sense of shame and doubt may develop.

STAGE 3: INITIATIVE VERSUS GUILT (4-6 YEARS)  Fundamental Question: “Am I good or am I bad?”

STAGE 3: INITIATIVE VERSUS GUILT (4-6 YEARS)  The challenge in this stage is for the child to function socially within their family.  If the child only thinks about their own needs and desires, then family members may instil feelings of guilt, leading to lower self-esteem.  If the child gets along well with others in the family, then a sense of self-confidence should grow.

STAGE 4: INDUSTRY VERSUS INFERIORITY (6 YEARS TO PUBERTY)  Fundamental Question: “Am I competent or am I worthless?”

STAGE 4: INDUSTRY VERSUS INFERIORITY (6 YEARS TO PUBERTY)  There is a shift from functioning socially within the family to the wider community, such as school.  Children who flourish in this stage will develop a sense of competence.  Children who struggle with this less-nurturing environment will have feelings of incompetence or inferiority.

STAGE 5: IDENTITY VERSUS ROLE CONFUSION (ADOLESCENCE)  Fundamental Question: “Who am I and where am I going?”

STAGE 5: IDENTITY VERSUS ROLE CONFUSION (ADOLESCENCE)  The main challenge in this stage is to form a clear sense of identity, by seeing themselves as a unique individual and defining their own personal values that provide them with their sense of direction.  Those who are successful tend to develop a healthy and confident sense of identity.  Those who are unsuccessful tend to experience a sense of ‘role confusion’ leading to lower self esteem, instability and social withdrawal.

STAGE 6: INTIMACY VERSUS ISOLATION (EARLY ADULTHOOD)  Fundamental Question: “Shall I share my life with another or live alone?”

 This stage is concerned with whether a person can develop the capacity to share intimacy with others and find a meaningful intimate relationship in their lives.  Successful resolution of this crisis promotes empathy and openness.  Unsuccessful resolution promotes feelings of isolation as well as shrewdness and a need to manipulate. STAGE 6: INTIMACY VERSUS ISOLATION (EARLY ADULTHOOD)

STAGE 7: GENERATIVITY VERSUS STAGNATION (MIDDLE ADULTHOOD)  Fundamental Question: “Will I produce something of real value?”

STAGE 7: GENERATIVITY VERSUS STAGNATION  The challenge is to develop worthwhile relationships with the younger generation.  Those successful at this stage tends to provide some sort of unselfish guidance to younger people on a frequent basis and feel content to keep doing so.  People who are unsuccessful are self-absorbed and have self-indulgent concerns about meeting their own needs and desires and have nothing to do with the younger generation.

STAGE 8: INTEGRITY VERSUS DESPAIR (LATE ADULTHOOD)  Fundamental Question: “Have I lived a full life?”

STAGE 8: INTEGRITY VERSUS DESPAIR (LATE ADULTHOOD)  The challenge is to avoid dwelling on the mistakes of the past and on one’s imminent death.  It is also the time to reflect on and review one’s life.  Success at this stage has people finding meaning and satisfaction with life as they look back.  Those who are unsuccessful reflect back and see the problems they struggled to deal with. They tend to wallow in bitterness, regret, despair and resentment.

EVALUATION OF ERIKSON STRENGTHS  Many psychologists agree that the psychosocial dilemmas in each stage contribute significantly to social-emotional development.  Erikson’s theory shows how social situations influence personality development.  Further research has occurred since Erikson proposed his theory. Much of it supporting his views on development.

LIMITATIONS  The idealised ‘typical’ development patterns suggested by Erikson do not fully explain the enormous personality differences between people.  The psychosocial dilemmas tend to be more descriptive than explanatory. This makes them difficult to test and verify.  There is no clear evidence to support that problems in earlier stages will lead to issues in later stages.