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Erikson�s Theory of Psychosocial Development: Why is it Still Relevant Today?

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Sunil Shroff, MBBS, MS, FRCS (UK), D. Urol (Lond) on Dec 16, 2020


Overview

"The adolescent mind is essentially a mind or moratorium, a psychosocial stage between childhood and adulthood, and between the morality learned by the child, and the ethics to be developed by the adult" -Erik Erikson, 1963


What is Psychosocial Development?

The term 'psychosocial' literally means a combination of psychological and social factors that collectively influence human behavior. For example, studies have shown the relationship between an individual's fears and apprehensions (psychological aspects) and how he behaves with others in society. This area of scientific endeavor has been extensively researched and studied by Erik Erikson, who developed a theory for human psychosocial development. This theory highlights the various crises faced by an individual and the resulting virtues gained, while passing through the various stages of life, from birth until death.

Who was Erikson?

Erik Erikson (1902-1994) was a German-American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst. He is best known for his Theory of Psychosocial Development in humans and is famous for coining the term 'identity crisis.'

Astonishingly, Erikson was not even a graduate but still served as a professor at world-renowned universities in the US, including Harvard, Yale, and the University of California at Berkeley. He achieved this unbelievable success by sheer hard work and erudition. Importantly, Erikson was the 12thmost cited psychologist of the 20thcentury.

What is Unique about Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development?

The uniqueness of Erikson's theory lies in the fact that he was the first to propose that human personality develops in a predetermined manner through 8 sequential stages of psychosocial development, starting from infancy and ending in old age.

Importantly, as the person passes through each stage, he experiences psychosocial crises that could positively or negatively impact personality development, depending on whether he is able to overcome the crises successfully.

What are the Stages of Erikson's Psychosocial Development Model?

Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development, which was introduced in the 1950s, is divided into 8 stages, which coincide with the age of an individual as he grows from infancy until attaining old age. This is presented in the table, which depicts the 8 stages of Erikson's chronologically organized model.

Table: Erikson's 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development

Stage Age Psychosocial Crisis or Conflict Virtue Developed
1 Infancy (0-1 year) Trust vs Mistrust Hope
2 Early Childhood (1-3 years) Autonomy vs Shame Will
3 Play Age (3-6 years) Initiative vs Guilt Purpose
4 School Age (6-12 years) Industry vs Inferiority Competence
5 Adolescence (12-19 years) Identity vs Confusion Fidelity
6 Early Adulthood (20-25 years) Intimacy vs Isolation Love
7 Adulthood (26-64 years) Generativity vs Stagnation Care
8 Old Age (65-death) Integrity vs Despair Wisdom

What are the Salient Features of Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development?

What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development?

Like all theories, Erikson's theory also has its strengths and weaknesses, which are briefly highlighted below:

Strengths

Weaknesses


What are the Implications of Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development?

Summary

Erik Erikson modified Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory to produce his 8-stage theory of psychosocial development. In summary -

Erikson expanded Sigmund Freud's stages by incorporating the cultural implications of development.

In the words of Erikson himself: "I consider my theory of psychosocial development to be a tool to think with, rather than a factual analysis."

Therefore, the 8 stages of Erikson's theory can be considered to be the starting point for inculcating the psychosocial skills needed by a child to become a successful person later in life.

References:

  1. Erikson�s Stages of Psychosocial Development - (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson%27s_stages_of_psychosocial_development)
  2. Erik Erikson - (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Erikson)
  3. Erikson�s Stages of Psychosocial Development - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556096/)
  4. Erik Erikson�s Stages of Psychosocial Development - (https://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html)

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