Erikson was born in 1902 in Germany. He was a developmental psychologist, psychoanalyst, and one of Sigmund Freud's contemporaries who coined the term "crisis." Rather than focusing on the sexual nature of development, Erikson focused on the sociocultural aspect and in 1959, he developed his 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development which we will explore on this page.
Erikson referred to each of his stages as a "psycho-social crisis," meaning that in order for a child to move on to the next stage, they first must overcome the crisis that came before it and failure to do so can have harmful effects on future development. What is important recognize as a parent with Erikson's stages is how they will determine your child's attitude as they progress and grow. It is crucial that you pay special attention to the crisis in adolescence, as this can be a very difficult time for your child and could last longer than other stages in Erikson's theory. The picture below and more information can be found here. |
- In the first stage the key term is trust. This stage takes place during infancy and the most important thing during this time is how well the child is taken care of and nurtured. The child needs a steady caregiver, whether it be a mother or father. This stage is all about the forming sense of security in the infant.
- Moving into toddler-hood, the second stage is all about the child learning to rely on themselves and not only a caregiver. At this time they should be learning basic tasks like dressing themselves and washing their hands. They may feel shame when compared to other children who have progressed faster than them but eventually they will catch up and achieve just as much.
- The third stage brings us to ages 3-5 where children enter preschool and kindergarten. During this time they will be expected to learn and practice things on their own and begin to make positive decisions for themselves. By this point they will have developed a sense of right and wrong. The child can feel shame when they do something perceived as wrong or if they need to ask for assistance in tasks that other children do not.
- Children in stage four are now in school all day. This heightens their self-awareness and maturity. In order for a child to avoid feeling inferior, Erikson believed that their self-confidence is a crucial key. At this point, children should be able to be compared to others, compete, and achieve to build industry.
- The last stage that we will focus on is identity v. role confusion. This takes place during teenage and early adult years and can be one of the most difficult times in a child's life. Not only is the child expected to find their sexual identity but also who they want to be as a person. This crisis can be brought on by the expectations that come along with adulthood and eventually being on their own. It is important during this time for the child to have a strong support system and healthy relationships with parents and peers.