Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
like Freud’s theory, focuses on unconscious. But instead of sexual, focuses on social aspects connection, attribution, love, care
Stages of Erikson’s Theory
1. Trust Vs Mistrust
shapes worldview age - 0-1 negative outlook or positive outlook wrt the world around them
2. Autonomy Vs Shame
1 year - 3 year sense of self, independence
3. Initiative Vs Guilt
age - 3-5 either takes initiative and makes friends, or feels guilty
4. Industry Vs Inferiority
mastering of knowledge, intellectual skills negative outcome = sense of inferiority; incompetent; unproductive
5. Identity Vs Identity Confusion (or Identity diffusion)
10 - 20 / adolescence finding your self identity who they are, where they’re going in life, their values etc failure to answer these - they are confused, negatively affects esteem
6. Intimacy Vs Isolation
Early adulthood, 20s - 30s Developing intimate relationships Forming healthy friendships failure - social isolation
7. Generativity Vs Stagnation
40s - 50s, middle adulthood Generativity = want to help younger generation Stagnation = having done nothing to help the younger gen
8. Integrity Vs Despair
60+, late adulthood reflects on past; retrospective was life spent well? satisfaction doubt vs gloom, despair sad about and unsatisfied about the kind of life they lived close to death, how they react to aging and concept of death???
Mnemonic for Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
Peg Word Mnemonic
One is a bun,
Two is a shoe,
Three is a tree,
Four is a door,
Five is a hive,
Six is sticks,
Seven is heaven,
Eight is bait
mnemonic for the goals of each stage: He Will Probably Come Fast, Literally Can’t Wait! 💦
visual aid for mnemonic → Rusted Bun (tRust) Shoe run over by Shane in his car (Sha(n)me vs autonomy)