Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erik Erikson was a great psychologist of his time. Some modern psychologists even choose to use some of his theories. His biggest, most important theory was the Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. Each of the eight stages is a developmental turning point where a crisis needs to be met before moving on to the next stage. Going into each stage, one is met with the crisis one must overcome, and leaving each stage, one leaves with a virtue to carry on into the next stage.

The first of Erikson’s eight stages is Trust vs. Mistrust. It begins as soon as a baby is born, and ends around the time the baby is eighteen months old. In this period, a baby learns whether people are dependable or not, depending on whether or not the baby gets his or her needs met. If the needs of the baby do not get met, then mistrust develops, and that carries on through the rest of the seven stages. The virtue that one should gain in stage one is hope/faith.

The second stage is Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt. Between the ages of two and three, a child is becoming an individual. He is toilet training and building his muscles to walk. He is learning the control that he has. If he does not get the support he needs from the people around him, then he will start feeling some shame and doubt. It is important, in this stage, to let him experiment with his control, but be there to support him. The virtue he walks out of this stage with is willpower and determination.

Stage three of Erikson’s eight stages occurs between the ages of four and five. It is the stage of Initiative vs. Guilt. A child in this stage is a lot more active. She plays a lot, and likes to explore. She will start developing a conscience, and an understanding between right and wrong. Support is a key issue in this stage as well. Without support, a sense of guilt can develop and follow through the rest of the stages until the conflict is dealt with. A sense of purpose is the virtue she will gain when things go well in stage three.