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Erik Erikson: eight psychosocial crises of development

26 July, 2019 - 10:10
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Like Piaget, Erik Erikson developed a theory of social development that relies on stages, except that Erikson thought of stages as a series of psychological or social (or psychosocial) crises turning points in a person's relationships and feelings about himself or herself (Erikson, 1963, 1980). Each crisis consists of a dilemma or choice that carries both advantages and risks, but in which one choice or alternative is normally considered more desirable or “healthy”. How one crisis is resolved affects how later crises are resolved. The resolution also helps to create an individual's developing personality. Erikson proposed eight crises that extend from birth through old age; they are summarized in the following Table 3.3. Four of the stages occur during the school years, so we give these special attention here, but it is helpful also to know what crises are thought to come both before and after those in the school years.

Table 3.3 Eight psychosocial crises according to Erikson

Psychosocial crisis

Approximate age

Description

Trust and mistrust

Birth to one year

Development of trust between caregiver and child

Autonomy and shame

Age 1-3

Development of control over bodily functions and activities

Initiative and guilt

Age 3-6

Testing limits of self-assertion and purposefulness

Industry and inferiority

Age 6-12

Development of sense of mastery and competence

Identity and role confusion

Age 12-19

Development of identity and acknowledge of identity by others

Intimacy and isolation

Age 19-25+

Formation of intimate relationships and commitments

Generativity and stagnation

Age 25-50+

Development of creative or productive activities that contribute to future generations

Integrity and despair

Age 50+

Acceptance of personal life history and forgiveness of self and others