Developmental Psychology: Identity

Question 1

Erikson’s theory

Answer 1

Development of identity a series of continual challenges that have to be met by individual to move successfully to next phase of life

Conflicts/crises normal part of development

Successful resolutions lead to next stage and successful resolution of same conflicts later

Failure to resolves crisis at earlier stage => abnormal personality development

Stages derives from clinical observations of patients.

Question 2

Define: sense of identity

Answer 2

Understanding of nature of self as distinct from others in terms of enduring personality characteristics.

Question 3

Define: identity formation

Answer 3

Development of long-lasting personality characteristics

Continuous challenge with dominant psychosocial crises characterising various phases of life.

Question 4

Define: psychosocial crisis

Answer 4

Developmental crises through which an individual must pass in adjusting to society.

Question 5

Erikson’s Stages

Answer 5

1. Infancy
2. Toddler
3. Early childhood
4. Middle childhood
5. Adolescence
6. Early adulthood
7. Middle adulthood
8. Late adulthood

Question 6

1. Infancy

Answer 6

Crisis: trust v mistrust

◦ 0 - 1
◦ depend on and must trust others to meet needs

◦ needs consistently/responsively met => attachment and trust others
◦ lack of attachment => mistrust of world

Question 7

2. Toddler

Answer 7

Crisis: autonomy v shame and doubt

◦ 1 - 3
◦ autonomous and less dependent => talk, walk, feed, toilet

◦ Successfully independent => self confidence, self control, mistakes easily fixed
◦ Overprotection/disapproval => shame and doubt in ability to be independent.

Question 8

3. Early childhood

Answer 8

Crisis: initiative v guilt

◦ 3 - 6
◦ Highly developed social and motor skills

◦ Balance wish to achieve more and take more responsibility while accepting parental control and discipline without guilt.

Question 9

4. Middle childhood

Answer 9

Crisis: industry v inferiority

◦ 6 - 12
◦ Industry = competence achieved through education
◦ relationships with friends and peers

◦ Rewarded for industry and successful at school => sense of confidence and mastery
◦ Failure to achieve competence => feeling of inferiority.

Question 10

5. Adolescence

Answer 10

Crisis: identity v role confusion

◦ 12 - 18
◦ Must integrate all resolutions to earlier crises
◦ ‘Who am I?’

◦ Sense of identity incorporating all elements of self
◦ Successful transition to adulthood
◦ Failure => role confusion, indecision and avoidance of commitment.

Question 11

6. Early adulthood

Answer 11

Crisis: intimacy v isolation

◦ 18 - 40
◦ Intimacy with another important

◦ Failure to develop sense of identity => inability to form intimate relationship and isolation.

Question 12

7. Middle adulthood

Answer 12

Crisis: generativity v stagnation

◦ 40 - 65
◦ Focus on work and maintenance of family relationships

◦ Sense of accomplishment and leaving legacy for future
◦ Failure => self-centredness and stagnation

Question 13

8. Late adulthood

Answer 13

Crisis: integrity v despair

◦ 65+
◦ Reflect on contribution and view as positive and satisfactory or disappointing and unsatisfactory

◦ Fulfilled life => view death with sense of integrity
◦ Or death is despaired and feared.