Eriksons Psychosocial Theory of Development

Introduction
1. Psychosocial
psycho relating to the mind, brain, personality, etc.
social means external relationship and environment.
2. The theory is a basis for broad or complex discussion and analysis of
personality and behavior, and also facilitating personal development of self
and others.
3. Eriksons theory is divided into 8 stages. Each stages involves
psychological crisis of two opposing emotional forces/ contrary disposition.
Each crisis stage relates to a corresponding life stage and its inherent
challenges.
Syntonic -> first-listed positive disposition in each crisis
Dystonic -> for the second disposition.(negative)
Syntonic and Dystonic is disposition is connected with the word versus.
If a stage is manage well, we carry away a certain virtue or psychosocial
strength. To attain this, we must achieve a ratio or balance between the
two opposing dispositions that represent each crisis.
If we dont do so well, we may develop maladaptation and malignancies.
o Malignancy too little of the positive and too much of the negative
aspect of the task.
o Maladaptation too much of the positive and too little of the
negative.
8 stages of Psychosocial development
Stage 1: (Infancy, 0 -2 years old) Trust vs. Mistrust
Primary caregivers give sense of familiarity, consistency and continuity,
the baby then develop the feeling that the world is a safe place to be, that
people are reliable and loving.
MALADAPTATION: Sensory maladjustment overly trusting, they
cannot believe anyone would mean them harm, and will use all the
defenses at their command to find an explanation or excuse for the
person who did him wrong.
MALIGNANCY: Withdrawal characterized by depression,
paranoia, and possibly psychosis.
If the proper balance is achieve the child will develop the virtue of hope
Stage 2: (Early Childhood, 2 4 years old) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Begins to make choices and express their own will. If encouraged, they
develop sense of autonomy and independence. They may also develop
sense of doubt and shame manifested in feelings of worthless and
incompetence.
MALADAPTATION: Impulsiveness a sort of shameless
willfulness that leads, in a later childhood and even
adulthood, to jump into things without proper consideration
of abilities.

MALIGNANCY: COMPULSIVENESS - Feels as their entire life

being rides on everything they do, and so everything must be
done perfectly.
If the proper balance is achieve, they will develop the virtue of willpower
or determination
Stage 3: (Early Childhood, 4 5 years old) initiative vs. Guilt
Child begins to explore his social and physical worlds discovering what he
can accomplish.
MALADAPTAION: Ruthlessness to be heartless or
unfeeling or be without mercy.
MALIGNANCY: inhibition the inhibited person will not try
things because nothing ventured, nothing lost and,
particularly, nothing to feel guilty about.
If the proper balance is achieve, will lead to psychosocial strengths of
purpose
Stage 4: (Schoo-age) Industry vs. Inferiority
Childs world broadens technical skills are learned and feelings of
competence, enlarged.
MALADAPTATION: Narrow Virtuosity: they are not allowed
to act their age. They are push into one area of competence
without allowing the development of broader interests.
MALIGNANCY: Inertia: Inferior complexes
Proper balance: competency
Stage 5: (Adolescene) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Characterized by an identity-formation crisis. Struggle is based not only on
societal demands as an emerging adult, but also on the pubescent age.
MALADAPTATION: Fanaticism believes that his way is the
only way.
MALIGNANCY: Repudiation - they reject their membership
in the world of adults and, even more, they reject their need
for identity.
Proper Balance: fidelity
Stage 6: (Young Adulthood) Initimacy vs Isolation
The individual develops a warm and intimate relationship with others.
MALADAPTATION: Promiscuity referring particularly to the
tendency to become intimate too freely.
MALIGNANCY: Exclusion - refers to the tendency to isolate
oneself from love, friendship, and community, and develop
certain hatefulness in compensation.
Proper balance: Love
Stage 7: (Middle Adulthood) Generativity vs. Stagnation
The middle years of stage comprise the productive years of adulthood. In
this stage, the individuals productivity is gauged by their contributions to
the family/society.

MALADAPTATION: Overextension - illustrates the problem.

MALIGNANCY: Rejectivity - too little generativity and too
much stagnation and no longer participating in or
contributing to society.
Proper balance: Care

Stage 8: (Late Adulthood) Ego integrity vs. Despair

A person comes to terms with the temporal limits of their life. It is the
fulfillment and culmination.
MALADAPTATION: Presumption this is what happens when
a person presumes ego integrity without actually facing the
difficulties of old age.
MALIGNANCY: disdain contempts of life.
Proper balance: Someone who approaches death without fear has the
strength wisdom.