A Comprehensive Overview of Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, detailing each of the eight stages from infancy to old age. It highlights the core conflict at each stage, such as trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame/doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair. The essay also discusses the implications of Erikson's theory for educational leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding children's development within societal expectations and the potential for later experiences to heal earlier challenges. It concludes by referencing key sources that further elaborate on Erikson's contributions to the field of psychology.

ERIK ERIKSON'S
STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
ERIK ERIKSON (1902 – 1994) WAS THE
GERMAN FOUNDER OF THE
PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY WHO LATER
BECAME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN,
TEACHING AT BERKELEY AND
HARVARD.
ERIKSON BELIEVED THAT “EACH
STAGE OF LIFE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A
SPECIFIC PSYCHOLOGICAL
STRUGGLE.”
• ERIKSON’S THEORY STATES THAT
HUMAN BEINGS GO THROUGH
MANY STAGES, GENERALLY BASED
ON AGE, AS THEY ADD TO THEIR
PERSONALITY. ERIKSON ALSO
STATED THAT THESE ITEMS WILL
HAPPEN IN THIS ORDER AND THAT
CHILDREN WILL LEARN ONE OR THE
OTHER.

MAJOR FEATURES OF THEORY
• TRUST VS MISTRUST (BIRTH - 1 ½
YEARS)
• AUTONOMY VS SHAME/DOUBT (2 - 3
YEARS)
• INITIATIVE VS GUILT (4-5 YEARS)
• INDUSTRY VS INFERIORITY (6-11
YEARS)
• IDENTITY VS ROLE CONFUSION (12-
18 YEARS)
• INTIMACY VS ISOLATION (18-35
YEARS)
• GENERATIVITY VS STAGNATION (35-
65 YEARS)
• INTEGRITY VS DESPAIR (OVER 65
YEARS)

MAJOR FEATURES OF THEORY
•ACCORDING TO ERIKSON, CHILDREN’S PERSONALITY
DEVELOPS WITHIN THESE STAGES, AND PERSONALITY
TRAITS ARE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THEM.

PROS AND CONS OF THEORY
• TRUST VS MISTRUST (BIRTH TO 1
½ YEARS)
CHILDREN EITHER LEARN
THAT THE WORLD IS A SAFE
AND NURTURING PLACE OR
THEY LEARN TO BE
MISTRUSTFUL AND
FRIGHTENED
• AUTONOMY VS SHAME/DOUBT (2 TO
3 YEARS)
CHILDREN BEGIN TO HAVE SOME
CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN
BODIES AND TO SOME EXTENT,
THEIR LIVES, WHICH ALLOWS FOR
GREAT INDEPENDENCE AND
SELF-CONFIDENCE

PROS AND CONS OF THEORY
• INITIATIVE VS GUILT (4 – 5 YEARS)
CHILDREN EXPAND THEIR
WORLD; LEARN TO CONTROL
THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENTS;
ACQUIRE FEELINGS OF
COMPETENCE AND
INDEPENDENCE; DEVELOP
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
• INDUSTRY VS INFERIORITY (6
– 11 YEARS)
CHILDREN BEGIN TO
HAVE MORE SOCIAL
INTERACTIONS; DEVELOP A
SENSE OF PRIDE IN
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PROS AND CONS OF THEORY
• IDENTITY VS ROLE CONFUSION
(12 – 18 YEARS)
MAIN TASK OF THE
ADOLESCENT IS TO ACHIEVE
A STATE OF IDENTITY; TO
KNOW WHO HE/SHE IS AND
WANTS TO BE
• INTIMACY VS ISOLATION (18 –
35 YEARS)
EXPLORING RELATIONSHIPS,
MOVING TO COMMITMENT
AND LONG-TERM
RELATIONSHIPS; FAILURE
BRINGS ISOLATION

PROS AND CONS OF THEORY
• GENERATIVITY VS STAGNATION
(35 – 65 YEARS)
BEING IN THE WORLD;
THOUGHTS OF FUTURE
GENERATIONS. WHAT HAVE
WE DONE TO HELP THOSE WE
LOVE AND THE WORLD AT
LARGE?
• INTEGRITY VS DESPAIR (OVER
65 YEARS)
REFLECTING BACK ON
LIFE; FEW REGRETS OR
BITTERNESS?

IMPLICATIONS TO EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP
CHILDREN ARE
NOT SIMPLY
BIOLOGICAL
ORGANISMS
THAT ENDURE

IMPLICATIONS TO EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP
CHILDREN
DEVELOP IN THE
CONTEXT OF
SOCIETY’S
EXPECTATIONS,
PROHIBITIONS
AND PREJUDICES

IMPLICATIONS TO EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP
PERSONALITY IS
SHAPED OVER THE LIFE
SPAN AND
EXPERIENCES LATER IN
LIFE CAN HEAL
PROBLEMS IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD

REFERENCE LIST
• Boeree, C.G.
Erik Erikson.
Http://Webspace.Ship.Edu/Cgboer/Erikson.Html
• Erikson Institute
Erik Erikson.
Http://Www.Erikson.Edu/About/History/Erik-erikson/
• Davis, D. And Clifton, A.
Psychosocial Theory: Erikson.
Http://Www.Haverford.Edu/Psych/Ddavis/P109g/Erikson.Stages.Html