Erikson's Stages of Human Development

Developmental psychologist Erik H. Erikson ( 1902-1994) was best known for his theory on social development of human beings, and for coining the phrase identity crisis.

The theory describes eight stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds on the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future.

(Approx. ages) Stage & Psychosocial crisis

Significant relations

Psychosocial modalities

Psychosocial virtues

Maladaptations & malignancies

(0-1)
Infant
Trust vs mistrust

Mother

to get,
to give in return

hope,
faith

sensory distortion
withdrawal

(2-3)
Toddler
Autonomy vs shame and doubt

Parents

to hold on,
to let go

will,
determination

impulsivity
compulsion

(3-6)
Preschooler

Initiative vs guilt

Family

to go after,
to play

purpose,
courage

ruthlessness
inhibition

(7-12)
School-age child

Industry vs inferiority

Neighborhood and school

to complete,
to make things together

competence

narrow virtuosity
inertia

(12-18)
Adolescent

Ego-identity vs role-confusion

Peer groups, role models

to be oneself,
to share oneself

fidelity, loyalty

fanaticism
repudiation

(20-45)
Young adult
Intimacy vs isolation

Partners, friends

to lose and find oneself in a
another

love

promiscuity
exclusivity

(30-65)
Middle aged adult
Generativity vs self-absorption

Household,
co-workers

to make be,
to take care of

care

overextension
rejectivity

(50+)
Old adultIntegrity vs despair

Mankind or "my kind"

to be,
through having been, to face not being

wisdom

presumption
despair

Erikson's ideas on how we grow up as create identities is in contrast to Freud's, who proposed sexual motives behind our behaviour.

Adapted from source

Psychology Studies & Experiments : Evaluations, summaries and guides to a vast range of psychology studies and experiments. Ideal for psychology students and tutors.

Altruism in Animals and Humans : Why Do We Help Other People? When Darwin introduced his theory of natural selection - often referred to as 'survival of the fittest' - he revolutionized and crystallized thought and theory in regards to how traits evolve in species.

Aversion Therapy: Aversion therapy uses the behavioral approach principles that new behavior can be 'learnt' in order to overcome addictions, obsessions or, as demonstrated in Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange, violent behavior.

Erikson's Stages of Human Development: Erik Erikson's theory on stages of human development

Flooding: flooding, fears, phobias

Behavioral Psychology: behavioural psychology, behaviorism, behaviourism