References

Cherry, K. (2014, October

1). Understanding Erikson's
stages of psychosocial
development. About
Education. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.co
m/od/psychosocialtheories/
a/psychosocial.htm
Rogers, A. (2013). Human
behavior in the social
environment (3rd ed.). New
York: Routledge.
Photo of Erik Erikson

Biography of Erik Erikson

Erik Homburger Erikson was
born on June 15, 1902 in Frankfurt,
Germany. Erikson attended the
Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute. He
moved to Massachusetts in 1933
and claimed a position at Harvard
Medical School as Americas first
child analyst. His main contribution
to psychology was his
developmental theory. Erikson
developed eight psychosocial
stages of development and
believed that each stage presented
a crisis that must be resolved
before one can proceed to the next
stage.

Rousey, A. (2012, August

1). Eriksons theory of
psychosocial development.
Retrieved from:
http://www.fractaldomains.c
om/devpsych/erikson.htm

ERIKSONS
THEORY

ERIKSON
S
THEORY
Gabriela Rivera,
Heather Pearl
Milhalneic, and Philia
Vilmeus

Stage 3 Initiative versus Guilt

Children take the initiative to learn
and explore their environment.
Children who are encouraged will
develop skills to pursue goals and
interests. Children who are
discouraged will not act upon their
interests.

The domain of this

theory is
developmental.

Stage 8 Ego Integrity versus

Despair
People reflect on their lives and
those who are satisfied feel a sense
of peace. Those that are not
satisfied feel a sense of despair.
Strength and Weaknesses

Stage 4 Industry versus

Inferiority

The Stages

Stage 1 Trust versus Mistrust

Children learn to trust others.
Infants learn that their caregivers
will provide them with food, shelter,
and affection. However, if the
needs are not met then they learn
to mistrust others.
Stage 2 Autonomy versus
Shame and Doubt
Children learn to take care of
themselves such as eating and
hygiene. By accomplishing tasks
the children learn to gain selfconfidence. If not encouraged or if

Children need to be productive and

have successful experiences. They
should be given the opportunity to
master various tasks.

Stage 5 Identity versus Identity

Confusion
Roles for the future are tried out
and integrated into their sense of
self. Difficulty will lead to confusion
about who they are.
Stage 6 Intimacy versus
Isolation
Learn to give and take with a
significant other without losing

Eriksons emphasis on each

stage can be limiting
because he places a lot of
differences in each stage
and also restricts each stage
to a certain age limit.
The way he defines each
stage is abstract, making it
difficult to measure and test
the information for each
stage in real life.
This theory can be used as a
useful guide for social
workers when trying to work
with clients, because of the
focus on social dynamics of
peoples behavior.

Is the theory culturally

sensitive?