Erik Erikson

By: London Bondurant

Background Information
Birthdate: June 15, 1902
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany
Died: May 12, 1994
Erikson grew up thinking his father was a man
named Dr. Theodore Homberger, but eventually
he learned that his biological father left his
mother before he was even born.
Learning this sparked truth sparked Eriksons
interest in how identity is formed for each
individual.

Eriksons Theory of
Psychosocial Development
As a student of Sigmund Freud, Erikson
encompassed the idea of conflict.
Instead of focusing on biological and physical
aspects of conflict (like Freud), Erikson
emphasized the psychological and social
aspects.
Erikson is best known today for his famous
theory of psychosocial development and his
concept of identity crisis.
His theory contains 8 stages, each defined by a
unique crisis or challenge.

1- Trust vs Mistrust
Age: Birth to 1 year
Challenge: To develop a sense that the world is
safe
Babies learn to trust that their parents will
meet their basic needs.
If the childs basic needs are not met, he or she
might grow up with a general mistrust of the
world.
Virtue: Hope

2- Autonomy vs Shame &

Doubt
Age: 1 to 3 years
Challenge: To realize that one is an independent
person who can make decisions
As toddlers, children begin to develop
independence and start to learn that they can do
some things on their own (such as using the
restroom).
If a child is not encouraged properly at this age,
he or she might develop shame and doubt about
their abilities.
Virtue: Will

3- Initiative vs Guilt
Age: 3 to 6 years
Challenge: To develop a willingness to try new
things and to handle failure
As preschoolers, children continue to develop
more independence and start to do things of
their own initiative.
If a child is not able to take initiative and
succeed at appropriate tasks, he or she might
develop guilt over their needs and desires.
Virtue: Purpose

4- Industry vs Inferiority
Age: 6 years to adolescence
Challenge: To learn basic skills and to work with
others
Throughout their school years, children
continue to develop self-confidence through
learning new things.
If they are not encouraged and praised
properly at this age, they may develop an
inferiority complex.
Virtue: Competence

5- Identity vs Identity
Confusion
Age: Adolescence
Challenge: To develop a lasting, integrated
sense of self
When they reach the teenage years, children
start to care about how they look to others.
They start forming their own identity by
experimenting with who they are.
If a teenager is unable to properly develop an
identity at this age, his or her role confusion
will probably continue on into adult hood.
Virtue: Fidelity

6- Intimacy vs Isolation
Age: Young adulthood
Challenge: To commit to another in a loving
relationship
During early adulthood, most people fall in love,
get married, and start their own family.
If a person is unable to develop intimacy with
others at this age (whether through marriage or
close friendship), they will probably develop
feelings of isolation.
Virtue: Love

7- Generativity vs
Stagnation
Age: Middle Adulthood
Challenge: To contribute to younger people through
child rearing, child care, or other productive work
This is the longest period of a humans life. It is the
stage in which people are usually working and
contributing to society in some way and perhaps
raising their children.
If a person does not find proper ways to be
productive during this period, they will probably
develop feelings of stagnation.
Virtue: Care

8- Integrity vs Despair
Age: Late Life
Challenge: To view ones life as satisfactory and
worth living
As senior citizens, people tend to look back on
their lives and think about what they have or
have not accomplished.
If a person has led a productive life, they will
develop a feeling of integrity. If not, they might
fall into despair.
Virtue: Wisdom

 Erikson believed that the earlier stages of

psychosocial development provide the foundation
for the later stages.
Ex) Adolescents who do not meet the challenge of
developing an identity will not establish truly
intimate relationships. Instead, they will become
overly dependent on their partners as a source of
identity.
His work is significant because not only does it
cover aspects of psychosocial development in
children, but it also covers the entire lifespan. It
tells how certain situations during childhood can
have a profound effect on a person later on in life.

Sources
Erik Erikson | Psychosocial Stages | Simply Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved October
8, 2014, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html
Eriksons Stages of Development | Learning Theories. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8,
2014, from http://www.learning-theories.com/eriksons-stages-ofdevelopment.html
How Erik Erikson's Own Identity Crisis Shaped His Theories. (n.d.). Retrieved
December 8, 2014, from
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htm
Kail, R. (2012). Children and their development (6th ed., p. 10). Upper Saddle
River, N.J.: Pearson Education.
Know What To Expect! The 8 Stages Of Social Development In Children. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 8, 2014, from http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/childdevelopment/erikson/