Section 2.3 Psychosocial development theory by Erik Erikson

Erikson was a psychoanalytic like Freud but differs from Freud regarding psychosexual development. Erikson is much more culture oriented than Freud and his theory is labeled psychosocial instead of psychosexual. He emphasizes the role of culture and society and the conflicts that can take place within the ego itself, whereas Freud underscores the conflict between the id and the superego.

Erikson’s theory is an epigenetic theory, which means it focuses on both biological and genetic origins of behaviour as interacting with the direct influence of environmental forces over time. He posited that this biological unfolding in relation to our sociocultural settings is done in stages of psychosocial development, where progress through each stage is in part determined by our success, or lack of success, in all the previous stages (Erikson, 1968).

Erikson believed that development occurs in eight distinct stages, from infancy to old age, and that each stage involves a specific psychosocial conflict that must be resolved. These conflicts involve the individual’s internal needs and emotions versus the demands or expectations of society. Successful resolution of each conflict leads to healthy personality development and the acquisition of essential life skills or virtues (like trust, autonomy, identity, etc.). If the conflict is not resolved successfully, it can lead to psychological difficulties in later stages.

Erikson’s theory claims that humans develop throughout their lifespan and consists of eight stages, which occur in different periods. The stages are Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Integrity vs. Despair. Each stage builds upon the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may reappear as problems in the future (Erikson, 1993).