Discuss the Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development.

Erickson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development: According to Erickson’s theory, psychosocial development happens develops in a series of stages. This theory describes the impact of social experience during the entire life.  

The development of ego identity is one of the main elements of Erikson’s psychosocial stage theory. Ego identity means the conscious sense of self that develops through social interaction. Erikson argues ego identity changes continuously because of new experience and information we get.

Besides ego identity, according to Erikson, a sense of competence also motivates a person’s behaviours and actions. In each stage, an individual becomes competent in an area of life. The person gets a sense of mastery, referred to as ego strength or ego quality, if the stage is handled well. The person will have inadequacy if the stage is managed poorly. 

According to Erikson, people in each stage experience a conflict that becomes a turning point in their development. These conflicts are key in developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. The potential for personal growth as well as potential for failure is very high. 

The Ego Psychology 

 The following tenets of Erikson’s theory differentiate it from that of Freud’s.     

■ The ego is the key. 

■ Part of the ego operates independently of the id and the superego.

■ Social and sexual factors have a crucial role in development of personality.

■ The ego can adapt to situations and promotes mental health.

Erikson’s theory includes information about “normal” personality as well as neurotics. He also incorporated society and culture, not just sexuality. It is more comprehensive than Freud’s theory. He did not conduct any statistical research to generate his theories and thus it is very hard to test his theories.

The Epigenetic Principle 

 Erikson believes that development occurs through a predetermined unfolding of individuals’ personalities in eight stages.  

Erikson accepted many of Freud’s concepts, including the id, ego and superego, and Freud’s theory of infantile sexuality. However, Erikson rejected Freud’s effort to describe personality solely on the basis of sexuality. Erikson felt that personality continued to develop beyond five years of age.

The Stages 

Erikson divides a person’s life into 8 stages in 2 parts, with one ending with childhood and the other adult development.  

Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust (0 to 1 year) 

 Infancy is the first stage that corresponds to Freud’s oral stage. The focus is on the infant’s basic needs being met by the parents, especially the mother, for food, sustenance, and comfort. 

The child understands the world and society through the parents and their interaction with the child. The child develops trust if the parents expose the child to warmth, regularity and dependable affection. The child develops mistrust if the parents fail to provide that kind of warmth and a secure environment or not able to meet the child’s basic needs.

Toddler: Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (2 to 3 years) 

 In the second stage, the child gains control over eliminative functions and motor abilities, and they start exploring their surroundings. The parents should not provide a strong base of security. The child can venture out to try to be independent. Autonomy in the child depends on the amount of patience and encouragement. The child develops a sense of doubt and reluctance to try new challenges if parents are highly restrictive.  

Children try to satisfy some of their own needs as they gain increased muscular coordination and mobility. They start eating on their own, clean themselves and use the bathroom. Toddlers develop a sense of autonomy and able to handle many problems on their own if caregivers encourage self-sufficient behaviour.

Too much of demands or not allowing children opportunity to perform tasks of which they are capable, or ridiculing children’s attempts at self-sufficiency cause the development of shame and doubt in them about their own ability. 

Preschool: Initiative vs. Guilt (4 to 6 years) 

 In this stage, children learn to master the world around them. They learn the basic skills and principles of physics like things fall on the ground and not up, round things roll etc. Initiative they take helps in their autonomy in undertaking, planning and doing a task. The child wants to begin and complete his own actions for a purpose. They also start feeling guilty if they do not get the desired outcomes.   

Childhood: Industry vs. Inferiority (7 to 12 years) 

 Formal schooling starts at this stage. According to Erikson, this period is crucial for the development of selfconfidence. Many tasks are performed by them in terms of writing, reciting and sports in which they can show their abilities. If children get encouragement to make and do things and are praised for their achievements, they show industry by being diligent, persevering at tasks until completed and put work before pleasure. On the other hand children develop feelings of inferiority about their capabilities if they are ridiculed or punished for their efforts. 

Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion (13 to 19 years) 

 Children move from this stage to adulthood. They are now physically capable of accomplishing many things that adults do. The adolescents ponder over the roles they will play in the adult world. They get confused about the roles that they have to play, the ways in which they will fit into the society and may experiment with different behaviours and activities. For example, they may take part in political or religious groups and perform tasks like working in a canteen and may baby sit. 

       They also become idealistic and question established norms that irritate the adults. If the youngster is ridiculed and does not get response, he may develop a negative self-concept. Also the adolescent is highly concerned about his look and his feelings that he looks like others makes him confident.

Young Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation (20 to 34 years) 

 Around the ages of 20 to 34, identity vs. role confusion comes to an end. Young adults want to fit in and are eager to blend their identities with friends. Erikson believes people are isolated because of intimacy. They are afraid of rejections or being turned down or our partners breaking up with us. We are familiar with pain, and to some of us, rejection is painful; our egos cannot bear the pain. 

Middle Adulthood: Generativity vs. Stagnation (35 to 65 years) 

 The primary developmental task in this period is one of contributing to society and helping to guide next generations.  

People develop a sense of productivity and accomplishment when they make a contribution during this period. 

 In contrast, people develop a feeling of stagnation and dissatisfaction with the relative lack of productivity.  

Senior: Integrity vs. Despair (65 years onwards) 

 People develop a natural slowing down process as they grow older. People contemplate about their past accomplishments and develop integrity and see themselves as leading a successful or unsuccessful life. People develop despair, often depression and hopelessness if they feel their life as unproductive and if they are dissatisfied with life.  

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