Erikson's psychosocial theory Flashcards
Based on
Freud’s theories but places emphasis of development on psychosocial stages of ego development
Includes
instinctual drives, life circumstances, social cultural and historical contexts - role of environment emphasized
8 Stages of development
focused on overcoming a conflict, i.e. a turning point in development - potential for growth and potential for failure; determines overall functioning and healthy social development; sense of mastery/competence (ego strength/quality) or sense of inadequacy - motivates behavior and actions
identity
conscious sense of self developed through social interactions, constantly changing due to new experiences/information from our daily interactions with others; all beliefs, values, and ideals that help shape and guide a person’s behavior; integrated/cohesive - endures and grows as we age
Trust vs mistrust
infancy - caregiver interaction is critical; proper care, affection & dependability lead to trust (feeling safe and secure in the world), otherwise the child becomes suspicious and mistrusting (fear of world, belief that life is inconsistent and unpredictable); balance between trust and mistrust leads to hope = openness to experience tempered by some wariness that danger may be present
Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt
early childhood, age 2-3 - develop greater sense of personal control; perform basic actions on their own and make simple preferences & choices (toilet training, food choices, toy preferences, clothing selection); with encouragement sense of independence increases; autonomy = secure and confident; shame/doubt = sense of inadequacy; balance between both is called will = belief in acting with intention, within reason and limits.
Initiative vs Guilt
preschool (3 - 5) - direct play and social interactions as a way to assert power; freedom and encouragement to play and exploration help to make appropriate choices; if stifled, can feel ashamed/embarrassed and become overly dependent on help from others; initiative = feel capable and able to lead others
Industry vs Inferiority
early school (5 - 11) - through social interactions develop a sense of pride in accomplishments and abilities; with encouragement from parents/teachers and peers, develop a sense of competence and belief in skills; without encouragement, doubt their skills; increasingly complex tasks, new skills, performance feedback all shape sense of self-confidence; unconditional love and support help kids through this stage, so they don’t equate achievement with acceptance and love; overpraised = sense of arrogance; balance for realistic sense of competence
Identify vs Confusion
adolescence (age 12-18) - explore independence, develop sense of self; confused or insecure about how they fit in; experiment with different roles/activities and behaviors; unpredictable and impulsive behavior is part of process; outside influences very important (friends, social groups, popular culture & trends); make a commitment to a particular identify; fidelity = strong sense of self, ability to relate to others, requisite for forming genuine relationships; role confusion = not sure who they are and what they like, no personal cohesiveness
Intimacy vs Isolation
early adulthood - exploring personal relationships; vital to develop close, committed relationships with others; success = committed, secure relationships and love; have to have strong sense of self for intimate relationship; without strong sense of identity, people have less committed relationships, higher isolation and loneliness; love = ability to form lasting, meaningful relationships
Generativity vs Stagnation
adulthood - build our lives, focused on career and family; contribute to world by being active in home and community; vs feeling unproductive and uninvolved
Integrity vs despair
old age - reflecting back on life; waste/regret/bitterness vs satisfaction/wisdom/integrity
