Erikson's Psychosocial Development: Stages, Implications, and Freud's Connections - Prof. , Lecture notes of Personality Development

Download Erikson's Psychosocial Development: Stages, Implications, and Freud's Connections - Prof. and more Lecture notes Personality Development in PDF only on Docsity!

Psychosocial Development

Theory

• Erik Erikson (1902- 1994 ) was a student of Sigmund Freud.
• He proposed a psychosocial theory of development, suggesting that an individual’s personality develops throughout the lifespan—a departure from Freud’s view that personality is fixed in early life.

• Erikson’s theory is based on what he calls

the epigenetic principle, which changes in

organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of genetic code itself.

• Genetics - encompassing the notion that we develop through an unfolding of our personality in predetermined stages, and that our environment and surrounding culture influence how we progress through these stages.

• Erikson believed that we are aware of what motivates us throughout life and that the Ego has greater importance in guiding our actions than does the Id.
• In his theory, Erikson emphasized the social relationships that are important at each stage of psychosocial development.

• We make conscious choices in life, and these choices focus on meeting certain social and cultural needs rather than purely biological ones.
• This biological unfolding in relation to our socio-cultural 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.

• Humans are motivated, for instance, by the need to feel that the world is a trustworthy place, that we are capable individuals, that we can make a contribution to society, and that we have lived a meaningful life.
• These are all psychosocial problems or challenges.

• Erikson believed that our personality continues to take shape throughout our life span as we face these challenges.
• According to him, the lifespan is broken into eight stages, each with a major psychosocial task to accomplish or crisis/challenge to overcome.

Connection between Erickson’s view and Freud’s view

• According to Sigmund Freud, three important conceptualized parts of the human personality are the Id, the Ego, and the Superego.

• The Id
  • The Id represented

human’s biological

instinct.

• It operates at the

unconscious level of the

mind.

• It always looks for the

gratification of self-

desires and avoid pain.

Operates on Pleasure Principle

The Ego

• During infancy, the Ego develops from the Id in individuals.
• It operates in both conscious and unconscious mind.
• The purpose of the Ego is to satisfy the demands of the id in a very safe and socially acceptable way. Reality Principle

It operates on Moral Principle

• During childhood, the Superego develops in individuals.
• The superego is responsible for ensuring moral standards in individuals.
• It motivates them to behave in socially acceptable ways. The Super Ego

Psychosocial Stages of Development by Erik Erickson

-.

If needs are met infancy develops a sense of basic trust. Outward signs of health growth and the expression of Trust:

1. Invest in relationships
2. Open, non-suspicious attitudes Infancy stage (below 1year): Trust and Mistrust

3. Lets the mother go
4. Welcomes touching
5. Shares self and possessions

1. Avoid relationship
2. Suspicious, closed
3. Unwilling to let mother go
4. Loner and unhappy
5. Poor eye contact
6. Does not share self or possessions The outward signs of unhealthy growth and expression of Mistrust:

Stage 2: Toddler (2years): Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

• Toddler strive to learn independence and self confidence. The expression of autonomy can be:

1. Independent
2. Resist being dominated
3. Able to stand on own two feet
4. Works well alone or with others

The expression of Shame and Doubt:

1. Postpone frequently
2. Has trouble working alone
3. Need structure and directions
4. Has trouble making decisions
5. Is easily influenced
6. Embarrassed when complimented

Stage 3: Preschooler (3-5years): Initiative vs Guilt

• Preschooler learns to initiate tasks and contends with self-control. This can be expressed through:

1. Capability to initiate activities and declare control over their world
2. Learning to plan and achieve goals while interacting with others,

3. Ability to initiate a sense of ambition and responsibility, when parents allow a child to explore within limits and then support the child’s choice.
4. Ability to assume leadership roles and develop self-confidence
5. Ability to accept challenges

• However, if these pursuits often fail or are criticized, the child may develop instead a feeling of self-doubt and guilt, which can be expressed through: 1.Poor eye contact 2.Gets depressed easily 3.Puts self down 4.Has low energy level to do some activities

Stage 4: Elementary School (6years to puberty): Industry vs Inferiority The child learns either to feel effective or inadequate. Expression of industry: 1.Children compare themselves with their peers to see how they measure up. 2.They develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in their schoolwork, sports, social activities.

3. They like experiments, projects and enjoy learning.
4. They finish what they start.
5. Wonders how things work

Expression of Inferiority:

• Children feel inferior and inadequate because they feel that they don’t measure up.
• They become observers not producers.
• They questions their own abilities.
• If children do not learn to get along with others or have negative experiences at home or with peers, an inferiority complex might develop into adolescence and adulthood.

Stage 5: Adolescence (11 - 19 years): Identity vs Role Confusion Teenager works at developing a sense of self by testing roles then integrating them to form a single identity. Expression of identity:

1. Adolescents struggle with questions such as “Who am I?” and “What do I want to do with my life?”
2. Tend to be self accepting and plans for future.

2. Adolescents may experience a psychosocial moratorium a period of time that permits experimentation with social roles to see which one fit.
3. They may “try on” different roles and develop positive identity that allows them to contribute to society.
4. Those who are successful have a strong sense of identity and are able to remain true to their beliefs and values in the face of problems and other people’s perspectives.