Psychologist
Erik Erikson developed his eight stages of development to explain how people mature. The stages clarify the developmental challenges faced at various points in life. His theory is widely taught in developmental psychology courses in the United States. Stage-based theories of development were popular during Erikson’s era. Yet there is one important difference between Erikson’s theory and other popular models of his time. In Erikson’s theory, a person does not have to successfully complete one stage of development to move on to the next stage. The Eight Stages of DevelopmentFind a TherapistEach stage has a conflict between two opposing concepts. For instance, the infancy stage’s main conflict is trust vs. mistrust. Although people of all ages may experience issues with trust, the infancy stage is where the challenge is most potent. What If the person does not overcome the challenges of a particular stage? The person will still progress to the next challenge. Yet the themes from the previous challenge may affect later stages. For example, a child who never establishes trust in infancy may grow into an adult who struggles with trust in romantic relationships. The eight stages of development are: Stage 1: Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust Infants depend on caregivers, usually parents, for basic needs such as food. Infants learn to trust others based upon how well caregivers meet their needs.
Stage 2: Toddlerhood: Autonomy vs. Shame and Self-Doubt During this phase, young children begin exploring the world around them. They learn more about their environment and their place within it. They also develop basic skills such as toilet training.
Stage 3: Preschool Years: Initiative vs. Guilt Preschoolers are increasingly focused on doing things themselves and establishing their own goals.
Stage 4: Early School Years: Industry vs. Inferiority As children grow in independence, they become increasingly aware of themselves as individuals. They begin to compare themselves with others.
Stage 5: Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion The famed term “identity crisis” comes from this period of development. During this stage, adolescents’ main goal is to answer the question “Who am I?” They may try different personas to determine which roles fit them best.
Stage 6: Young Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation According to Erikson, young adulthood is the period during which many people get married or develop significant relationships. It has been defined as anywhere from 20-24 years to 20-40 years.
Stage 7: Middle Adulthood: Generativity vs. Stagnation The focus of this stage is to contribute to society and the next generation. Adults in this stage are often at the height of their careers. Many people are raising children.
Stage 8: Late Adulthood: Ego Integrity vs. Despair During this phase, older adults reflect on the life they have lived.
Limitations of Erikson’s Eight StagesErikson’s eight stages of development is a popular theory. Yet it has also received a fair amount of criticism from the psychological community. Erikson is often criticized for supporting a limited view of human development. Critics argue Erikson focused too much on childhood, neglecting the development that occurs in adulthood. He admitted a person’s identity could change in adulthood after the adolescent stage. Yet he did not offer any speculation on how or why such a change would happen. Other critics take issue with his views on gender. Erikson agreed with Freud that personality differences between genders are rooted in biology. He claimed human development also differed by gender. Feminist theorists criticize Erikson for using the male experience as the default template for human development. Lastly, some critics say Erikson focuses too much on speculation rather than data. Erikson based much of his theory of biographical case studies. Seeing the stages play out in a case study can help people understand the concepts at work. Yet the details of Mahatma Gandhi’s development are difficult to apply on a broad scale. References:
Last Updated: 05-23-2018 |