Erikson's 8 Psychosocial Stages

Question 1

What are the 8 stages?

Answer 1

1. Trust v. Mistrust
2. Autonomy vs. shame, doubt
3. Initiative vs. guilt
4. Industry vs. Inferiority
5. Identity vs. Identity Diffusion
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation
7. Generativity vs. self-absorption
8. Integrity vs. Despair

Question 2

Trust v. Mistrust

Answer 2

• First stage
• Age: infancy
• Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliability, care and affection. A lack of this will lead to mistrust.
• Strength: Hope

Question 3

Autonomy vs. shame, doubt

Answer 3

• 2nd stage
• Age: early childhood (2-3 years old)
• Children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of independence. Success leads to feelings of autonomy, failure could lead to feelings of shame & doubt.
• Strength: Will

Question 4

Initiative vs. guilt

Answer 4

• 3rd stage
• Age: Play age (3-5 years)
• Children need to begin asserting control & power over the environment. Success in this stage leads to a sense of purpose. Children who try to exert too much power may experience disproval, resulting in a sense of guilt.

- Strength: Purpose

Question 5

Industry vs. Inferiority

Answer 5

• 4th stage
• Age: school age (6 to 11)
• Children need to cope w/ new social & academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority
• Strength: Competence

Question 6

Identity vs. Identity Diffusion

Answer 6

• 5th stage - Age: Adolescence
• Teens need to develop a sense of self & personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self.
• Strength: Fidelity

Question 7

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Answer 7

• 6th Stage
• Age: Early adulthood
• Young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other people. Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation.

Strength: Love

Question 8

Generativity vs. self-absorption

Answer 8

• 7th stage
• Age: adulthood
• Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often having children or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness & accomplishment. Failure results in shallow involvement in the world.
• Strength: Care

Question 9

Integrity vs. Dispair

Answer 9

• 8th stage
• Age: old age
• Older adults need to look back on life & feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness & despair.
• Strength: Wisdom