Erik Erikson Stages of Psychosocial Development Theory

Summary

The video script explores Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development, a framework for understanding human growth from childhood to adulthood. Each stage presents a developmental conflict that, when resolved, leads to a virtue. The stages range from trust and autonomy in early childhood to intimacy, generativity, and wisdom in adulthood. The script also covers Erikson's personal life, his influence by Freud, and critiques of his theory, including its vagueness and cultural bias.

Takeaways

• 👶 Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development consists of eight stages that people face throughout their lives.
• 📚 Erikson's stages each involve a developmental conflict that must be resolved to acquire a specific virtue.
• 🧒 The first stage, trust vs mistrust, occurs from birth to 18 months, focusing on the child's trust in their caregivers.
• 👧 The second stage, autonomy vs shame and doubt, occurs from 18 months to 3 years, focusing on the child's independence.
• 👦 The third stage, initiative vs guilt, occurs from 3 to 6 years, focusing on the child's ability to initiate activities.
• 🧑‍🏫 The fourth stage, industry vs inferiority, occurs from 6 to 12 years, focusing on the child's competence in skills.
• 👨‍🎓 The fifth stage, identity vs role confusion, occurs from 12 to 18 years, focusing on the adolescent's self-identity.
• 💑 The sixth stage, intimacy vs isolation, occurs from 20 to 40 years, focusing on forming intimate relationships.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 The seventh stage, generativity vs stagnation, occurs from 45 to 65 years, focusing on contributing to society.
• 👴 The eighth stage, integrity vs despair, occurs after 65 years, focusing on reflecting on one's life with integrity or despair.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory?

Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory focuses on the eight stages that a healthy individual encounters from childhood through adulthood, emphasizing the developmental conflicts that must be resolved to progress through each stage.

How did Erikson's work combine Freudian methodology with another field of study?

Erikson's work combines Freudian methodology with cultural anthropology, examining how childhood training and cultural accomplishments relate to one another.

What is the virtue associated with the first stage of Erikson's theory?

The virtue associated with the first stage of Erikson's theory is hope, which is developed through the resolution of the psychosocial crisis of trust vs. mistrust in infants.

What is the existential question that children in the second stage of Erikson's theory ask themselves?

The existential question children in the second stage ask is 'Is it okay to be me?', which relates to the psychosocial crisis of autonomy vs. shame and doubt.

What is the virtue that children aim to acquire in the third stage of Erikson's theory?

In the third stage, the virtue children aim to acquire is purpose, which is developed through resolving the psychosocial crisis of initiative vs. guilt.

What is the virtue associated with the fourth stage of Erikson's theory, and what is the corresponding psychosocial crisis?

The virtue associated with the fourth stage is competence, and the corresponding psychosocial crisis is industry vs. inferiority, which occurs in children around 6 to 12 years old.

What is the virtue that individuals aim to achieve in the fifth stage of Erikson's theory, and what is the existential question they face?

In the fifth stage, individuals aim to achieve the virtue of fidelity, facing the existential question 'Who am I? What can I be?', which relates to the psychosocial crisis of identity vs. role confusion.

What is the virtue associated with the sixth stage of Erikson's theory, and what is the main life event of this stage?

The virtue associated with the sixth stage is love, and the main life event of this stage is forming intimate and caring relationships.

What is the virtue that individuals aim to achieve in the seventh stage of Erikson's theory, and what is the psychosocial crisis they face?

In the seventh stage, individuals aim to achieve the virtue of caring, facing the psychosocial crisis of generativity vs. stagnation, which involves contributing to society and mentoring the next generation.

What is the virtue associated with the final stage of Erikson's theory, and what is the existential question posed?

The virtue associated with the final stage is wisdom, and the existential question posed is 'Is it okay to have been me?', which relates to the psychosocial crisis of ego integrity vs. despair.

What is the ninth stage added by Joan Erikson, and how does it differ from the original eight stages?

The ninth stage added by Joan Erikson involves revisiting the previous eight stages in reverse order of crisis during old age, focusing on the impact of physical deterioration and the reevaluation of past stages, which was not present in the original eight stages.

What are some of the criticisms of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development?

Some criticisms of Erikson's theory include its vague mechanisms for resolving conflicts, its primary focus on boys and childhood, an overemphasis on social expectations in certain cultures, and the assumption that completion of one stage is a prerequisite for the next, which not everyone agrees with.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Erikson's Psychosocial Development

This paragraph introduces the topic of Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development, presented by the narrator, Frank Avella. It emphasizes the importance of resolving developmental conflicts at each stage to acquire virtues. The theory, which became widely recognized after the publication of 'Childhood and Society,' explores the relationship between childhood training and cultural accomplishments. Erikson's work, influenced by Freud, combines psychoanalytic methodology with cultural anthropology. The paragraph also touches on the significance of organized activities in aiding children's development and provides a brief background on Erikson's life and career, including his lack of formal education and his contribution to the field of personality theory.

05:01

👶 Stages of Childhood Development

This section delves into the first five stages of Erikson's psychosocial development, each with its own developmental conflict and virtue. Stage one, for infants up to 18 months, focuses on trust vs. mistrust, with the mother-child relationship being pivotal. Stage two, for children aged 18 months to 3 years, is about autonomy vs. shame and doubt, emphasizing the development of self-control. Stage three, applicable to children aged 3 to 6 years, deals with initiative vs. guilt, encouraging children to take on tasks. Stage four, for 6 to 12-year-olds, is centered on industry vs. inferiority, highlighting the importance of learning new skills. Lastly, stage five, for 12 to 18-year-olds, addresses identity vs. role confusion, focusing on the formation of personal identity through social relationships.

10:01

👤 Adolescent and Adult Development Stages

This paragraph outlines the latter stages of Erikson's theory, focusing on adolescence and adulthood. Stage six, for individuals aged 20 to 40, is about intimacy vs. isolation, where the ability to form lasting relationships is crucial. Stage seven, for those aged 45 to 65, involves generativity vs. stagnation, with a focus on contributing to society and guiding the next generation. The final stage, for individuals over 65, is about ego integrity vs. despair, where a retrospective view of life leads to wisdom or despair, depending on one's accomplishments. Additionally, the paragraph introduces a ninth stage added by Joan Erikson, addressing the experiences of individuals in their 80s and 90s, where they revisit previous stages in reverse order due to the effects of old age.

🔍 Criticism and Conclusion

The final paragraph discusses criticisms of Erikson's theory, noting its vagueness in resolving conflicts and transitioning between stages. Critics argue that the theory predominantly applies to boys and is overly focused on childhood, with the first five stages occurring within the first 20 years of life. The theory is also criticized for its emphasis on social expectations within certain cultures and the assumption that completing one stage is a prerequisite for the next. The paragraph concludes by thanking the audience for their time and encouraging them to subscribe to the channel, check out additional resources, and engage with the content by liking and sharing the video.

Keywords

💡Psychosocial Development

Psychosocial development refers to the process by which individuals grow and adapt to their social environment over the course of their lives. In the video, Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is the central theme, outlining eight stages that a person goes through from childhood to adulthood, each marked by a specific developmental conflict that must be resolved to progress.

💡Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson is the psychologist who developed the theory of psychosocial development. The video discusses his life, his influence by Sigmund Freud, and his transition from an artist to a personality theorist. His work is foundational to the video's narrative, as it explores the stages of development he proposed.

💡Developmental Conflict

A developmental conflict in Erikson's theory is a crisis that arises at each stage of psychosocial development. These conflicts must be resolved for an individual to progress and develop a positive sense of self. The video script provides examples of these conflicts, such as 'trust vs. mistrust' in the first stage.

💡Virtue

In Erikson's theory, a virtue is a positive quality that is acquired when an individual successfully resolves the developmental conflict of a particular stage. The video explains that virtues such as hope, will, purpose, and others are associated with each stage and contribute to a person's overall healthy development.

💡Identity Crisis

The term 'identity crisis' is famously associated with Erikson's theory, particularly the fifth stage of development where adolescents grapple with questions of self and societal role. The video mentions Erikson's coining of the phrase and discusses how teenagers navigate this crisis to form a sense of identity.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy in the context of Erikson's theory refers to the development of self-governance and independence during the second stage of development. The video script describes how children between 18 months and 3 years develop a sense of autonomy, learning to explore and make decisions on their own.

💡Initiative

Initiative is a virtue associated with the third stage of Erikson's theory, where children between 3 and 6 years old begin to take on projects and tasks with support from adults. The video explains that nurturing initiative is crucial for children to develop a sense of purpose and self-direction.

💡Industry

Industry is the virtue that emerges from the fourth stage of development, where children aged approximately 6 to 12 years old learn new skills and face the psychosocial crisis of industry versus inferiority. The video discusses how children's experiences in school and social recognition can influence their sense of industry.

💡Fidelity

Fidelity is the virtue associated with the fifth stage of Erikson's theory, where adolescents face the crisis of identity versus role confusion. The video explains that successful identity formation leads to fidelity, the ability to commit to beliefs and relationships.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy is the virtue that individuals aim to achieve during the sixth stage of Erikson's theory, typically between the ages of 20 and 40. The video discusses the psychosocial crisis of intimacy versus isolation and how forming deep, committed relationships is central to achieving this virtue.

💡Generativity

Generativity is the virtue linked to the seventh stage of development, where individuals between 45 and 65 years old focus on contributing to society and guiding the next generation. The video script explains that generativity involves finding meaningful ways to impact society, beyond mere self-interest.

💡Ego Integrity

Ego integrity is the virtue associated with the final stage of Erikson's theory, where individuals over the age of 65 reflect on their lives and the broader human experience. The video describes the crisis of ego integrity versus despair, where a sense of fulfillment and wisdom can be achieved if one has led a life of accomplishment and contribution.

💡Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures and their development. In the video, Erikson's work is said to combine Freudian methodology with cultural anthropology, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural influences on the stages of psychosocial development.

Highlights

Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development provide a framework to view development over a lifespan.

Each stage involves a developmental conflict that must be resolved to acquire the stage's virtue.

Erikson's theory became widely recognized after the publication of his book 'Childhood and Society'.

Erikson was influenced by Sigmund Freud and combined Freudian methodology with cultural anthropology.

Organized activities like sports and teamwork can help children advance through developmental stages.

Erikson's father left before he was born, and he was adopted by his mother's second husband.

Erikson started as an artist and became an art teacher, eventually focusing on personality theory.

Erikson coined the phrase 'identity crisis' and is renowned in academia despite not having a bachelor's degree.

Stage one (Trust vs. Mistrust) occurs from birth to 18 months, with the mother being the significant relationship.

In stage two (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt), children develop self-control from 18 months to 3 years.

Stage three (Initiative vs. Guilt) involves children taking on projects with support from 3 to 6 years old.

In stage four (Industry vs. Inferiority), children learn new skills or feel inferior from 6 to 12 years old.

Stage five (Identity vs. Role Confusion) is about forming a school identity and occurs from 12 to 18 years old.

Stage six (Intimacy vs. Isolation) involves forming intimate relationships between 20 and 40 years old.

Stage seven (Generativity vs. Stagnation) focuses on contributing to society from 45 to 65 years old.

The final stage (Ego Integrity vs. Despair) involves contemplating life achievements in senior years.

A ninth stage was added by Joan Erikson, focusing on revisiting previous stages in old age.

Critics argue that Erikson's theory is too vague and primarily applies to boys and childhood.

Erikson's theory is also criticized for focusing too much on social expectations and the completion of one stage as a prerequisite for the next.

Transcripts

hello and welcome to teachings in

education i am your narrator frank

avella

in this presentation we will cover eric

erickson's eight stages of psychosocial

development

his work offered a vast framework to

view development over a lifespan

during each stage people face a

developmental conflict that must be

resolved in order to acquire that

stage's virtue as we'll explore

now we're going to begin with an

overview

his theory of psychosocial development

describes eight stages that a healthy

individual encounters from childhood

through adulthood

erickson's research on the eight stages

became widely recognized after the

publication of his book entitled

childhood and society and it deals with

the relationship between childhood

training and cultural accomplishment

erickson was immensely influenced by

psychoanalyst sigmund freud his work

combines freudian methodology with

cultural anthropology

organized activities such as sports and

teamwork experience are seen today as a

way to help children advance through the

developmental stages of their lives

as individuals advance through each of

the eight stages they must encounter a

psychosocial crisis and if the

individual is able to reconcile that

conflict they will emerge from the stage

with a corresponding virtue

next we're going to look at eric

erickson the person

eriksen's father left his mother before

he was born his mother remarried a

jewish pediatrician who officially

adopted eric as his child

eric started as an artist and eventually

landed a job as an art teacher

he worked well with children and began

getting hired as a tutor

eric married artist and dancer joan

erickson

they had four children together

joan was a main collaborator in his

eight stages of psychosocial

ericsson focused his life's work on

personality theory

he is also credited with corning the

phrase identity crisis amazingly

although erickson had achieved much

success and is renowned in the fields of

academia

he never earned a bachelor's degree

he did earn two certificates from the

montessori teachers association

right now i want to take a quick break

and ask that you please subscribe to

this channel also don't forget to like

and share this video and you can get a

powerpoint presentation from a link in

the description below

now let's get back to this presentation

stage one has the ultimate outcome

virtue of hope

in this stage

children go through a psychosocial

crisis of trust vs mistrust and their

personality is first developed this

stage occurs for newborn babies up to 1

year old 18 months

the mother is their significant

relationship in the child's life the

child's interaction with the mother

determines their level of trust

the stage's existential question

is can i trust the world if the child

has parents who satisfy their needs they

learn trust in others

if a child is neglected they will learn

that the world is dangerous and

unpredictable thus mistrust

providing a secure environment is needed

parents must respond quickly to an

infant's cries

leading to trust and the acquisition of

the virtue hope

next up is stage two with an outcome

virtue of will

the psychosocial crisis in state in this

stage is autonomy for shame and doubt

the stages occur in children 18 months

to about 3 years

here children develop a sense of

self-control

both parents share a significant role in

that they must be there as a security

blanket in allowing the children to

explore at their own will

in this stage children ask the question

is it okay to be me

children develop their own interests

perhaps insects or dancing they begin to

develop independence

important tasks for children at this

stage include potty training getting

dressed washing hands

if children are not allowed to complete

tasks by themselves they'll develop

shame and doubt about their ability to

handle problems

autonomy will lead to will

the will to do it on their own

stage 3 the virtue of purpose

the psychosocial crisis in this stage is

initiative versus guilt

children in stage 3 are between

3 and 6 years of age

during this time of their lives children

must be able to make judgment the

question looms is it okay for me to do

to move to act

children will begin to take on projects

with the support of parents and teachers

children will develop initiative to take

on tasks

if adults discourage independent

activities children will feel guilty

about their desires

in this stage life events that take

place include bike riding creating

drawings exploring their surroundings

at the end of this stage a child wants

to complete their activities for a

reason for a purpose they should be

granted a level of freedom and

encouragement to play

continuing we come to stage four the

virtue of this stage is competence

here children encountered a psychosocial

crisis of industry versus inferiority

children in this stage are approximately

6 to 12 years of age

children are required to learn new

skills or feel inferior for their lack

of success

many of the significant relationships of

the child's life take place at school

this stage focuses on socio-emotional

factors that influence a child's life

the child asked the question

can i make it in this world of people

and things

children notice individual differences

in other cultures in school

the children are recognized for success

in school work sports activities and

this praise leads them to work harder

take risks and further accomplishment

ridicule for poor performance will lead

to inferiority feelings and lack of

motivation

moving forward we come to stage five

fidelity

at this stage children go through the

psychosocial crisis of identity vs role

confusion

this stage usually takes place when

children are between 12 and 18 years of

age

children at this age care about how they

appear to others

significant relationships at this age

include peer friends and role models

children settle on a school identity

then they ask the question of who am i

what can i be

children may affiliate with different

groups religions politics etc all in an

effort to establish their identity

important life events center on social

relationships

many teenagers drift from one

relationship to the next

they want to make their mark on society

successful identity formation in

children helps develop fidelity and the

ability to relate to others in a general

manner

role confusion leads to low self-esteem

stage six is the virtue of love

in this stage the psychosocial crisis is

intimacy versus isolation

individuals are anywhere between 20 and

40 years old during the stage

people are ready to make serious

commitments at this time

the significant relationships in this

stage are life partners and very close

friends

the existential question is can i love

people

think to themselves am i ready to make

long lasting commitments to another

person

many individuals do form intimate and

caring relationships romantic

relationships are the key events of this

stage

people that don't form these

relationships mostly due to lack of

sacrifice will not achieve the virtue of

love

the ability to reciprocate is necessary

for any relationship

others are simply afraid of rejection

and intimate relationships and therefore

never achieve love

continuing we now have stage seven and

it's the virtue of caring

psychosocial crisis at this stage is

generativity versus stagnation

generativity refers to the concern for

the next generation and making your mark

on society

the age range is from 45 to 65 years old

basically middle adulthood the major

relationships at this stage are

household relationships kids family etc

and workplace friends

people in this stage should want to

mentor and guide youngsters

at this stage we ponder the question how

can i make my life count

the primary task of middle age is to

find ways to meaningfully contribute to

society

work and parenthood are the major life

events parenthood's task is to help

children grow up to be responsible

adults

a self-centered person selfish people

who are unwilling to help society

develop feelings of stagnation and never

achieve care

on to the last stage which is wisdom

the psychosocial crisis is ego integrity

vs despair

this is the stage for senior citizens

individuals over the age of 65. many

people are retired by this point and

slow down their lives

people begin to contemplate not only

their personal accomplishments but the

accomplishments of all mankind

people are retrospective yet still

developing

the existential question posed

is it okay to have been me

notice it's in the past tense

people with integrity near the ends of

their lives are more at peace about

death

they achieve wisdom

major life events are simply reflecting

on your own life if a person doesn't

have any accomplishments

they live the rest of their lives in

despair if they are successful

those who have achieved success

develop integrity and wisdom and look

back on their lives with fulfillment and

joy

and now on to the ninth stage which was

added by joan erickson in the life cycle

completed extended version

this ninth stage was published after her

husband's death

this stage takes place when a person is

in their 80s and 90s old age really has

a negative impact on a person's life

in this stage older adults revisit the

previous eight stages in reverse order

of crisis for example stage one's crisis

was trust verse mistrust but when a

person is in their nineties they're

forced to mistrust their own abilities

as their body deteriorates in stage two

now a person experiences shame as they

lose bodily control

the reversal occurs for the rest of the

stages as well

it can be a sad thing

but before we finish let's discuss some

of the criticism of erickson's theory of

psychosocial development

major criticism being that the

mechanisms for resolving conflict and

moving from one stage to the next is not

clearly defined

critics claim it to be too vague

another criticism of erickson is that

most of his work applies mainly to boys

others claim that the theory is too

focused on childhood

stages 1 through 5 all occur within the

first 20 years of a person's life

this theory also focuses too much on

social expectations found in certain

cultures

also

erickson focuses too much on the stages

where it's assumed that completion of

one stage is a prerequisite

for the next psychosocial crisis not

everyone agrees on that

anyway right now i want to thank you for

your time i want to ask that you please

subscribe to this channel check the

description below for links to a

powerpoint presentation and other

resources and don't forget to like and

share this video thank you very much for

your time

and i look forward to creating another

video

you