Janeline V.

Nicolas May 12, 2017

MAED Guidance and Counseling

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development

I. Introduction

Erikson believes that every person has his or her own unique identity. This identity is composed of
the different personality traits that be considered positive or negative. These personality traits can also be
innate or acquired. The bottom line is that as human beings, we possess many characteristics that are honed
in many different aspects that eventually define who we are.

The theory is a basis for broad or complex discussion and analysis of personality and behavior,
and also facilitating personal development – of self and others. Why? Because, this can help teacher
and counselor in becoming more knowledgeable and at the same time understanding of the various
environmental factors that affect his own and his students personality and behavior.

An understanding of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development requires awareness of

several basic points. Psychosocial, Psycho relates to mind, brain and personality while, social means
the external relationships and environment. In Bio Psychosocial, bio refers to life as in biological.
Growth takes place according to epigenetic principle, which states that a person's development is
predetermined. (e.g., step-by-step growth, any step doesn’t replace the accomplishment of the previous
step, ex. children crawl first before they walk, walk before run, run before jump)

Also, in every stage of life there is an interaction of opposites, a conflict between; Syntonic - A
harmonious element (e.g., Trust) and Dystonic - A disruptive element. (e.g., Mistrust). Erikson conditioned
that people must have these two experiences in order to grow. At each stage of conflict between the two
elements, a person develops an ego quality or strength or basic strength (e.g., develops hope, behind
conflicts) that allows a person to move to the next stage.

In dealing with the conflicts, each stage has also a core pathology in which a person has a tendency to
develop the opposite strength (e.g., develops withdrawal). According to the theory, successful completion
of each stage results in a healthy personality and the acquisition of basic virtues. Basic virtues are
characteristic strengths which the ego can use to resolve subsequent crises. Failure to successfully complete
a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further stages and therefore a more unhealthy personality
and sense of self. These stages, however, can be resolved successfully at a later time.

Erikson’s eight stages of development never lose the sight to biological aspect of human development,
he believes on the events in the earlier stage but ego is shape by the multiplicity of conflicts and events
(past, present and future) that causes an individual to experience identity crises, and this is not a catastrophic
event but rather an opportunity to maladaptive or adaptive adjustment.
II. Objectives

At the end of the discussion, students are expected to:

a. Describe the eight (8) stages of Erik Erikson’s Theory.
b. Differentiate the psychosocial crisis in different life stages.
c. Value the importance of the virtue and maladaptation/malignancy in every stages of
Psycho-social development.
d. To integrate the views of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development in career guidance
program.

III. Highlights of Discussion

Erik Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

The first stage is infancy, is approximately the first year or year and a half of life. The goal
is to develop trust without completely eliminating the capacity for mistrust. If the primary
caregivers, like the parents can give the baby a sense of familiarity, consistency, and continuity,
then the baby will develop the feeling that the world is a safe place to be, that people are reliable
and loving. Maladaptation Malignancy Sensory Maladjustment: overly trusting, even gullible,
this person cannot believe anyone would mean them harm, and will use all the defenses at their
command to find an explanation or excuse for the person who did him wrong. Withdrawal:
characterized by depression, paranoia, and possibly psychosis. If the proper balance is
achieved, the child will develop the virtue of Hope.

The second stage is early childhood/toddler, is approximately two to three years old. He
begins to make choices and express his will. If encouraged, he develops a sense of autonomy
and independence. In this stage Erikson believes that the child may develops a sense of doubt
and shame manifested in feelings of worthless and incompetence. We should keep in mind that
even something as innocent as laughing at the toddler’s efforts can lead the child to feel deeply
ashamed and to doubt his or her abilities. Maladaptation Malignancy Compulsiveness: feels as
if their entire being rides on everything they do, and so everything must be done perfectly.
Impulsiveness – a sort of shameless willfulness that leads you, in a later childhood and even
adulthood, to jump into things without proper consideration of your abilities. If you get the
proper, positive balance of autonomy and shame and doubt, you will develop the virtue of
willpower or determination.

The third stage is preschool stage, is approximately four to five years old. Child begins to
explore his social and physical worlds discovering what he can accomplish. Erikson refers to
this as a time for developing a sense of initiative or a positive attitude of personal
accomplishment. At this time, the child gradually becomes aware of the various social roles
presented by his environment. In Erikson’s view, the basic influence during this period is the
child’s families who can help him learn to be responsible for his behavior and actions.
Maladaptation Malignancy Ruthlessness: to be heartless or unfeeling or be “without mercy”.
Inhibition - the inhibited person will not try things because “nothing ventured, nothing lost”
and, particularly, nothing to feel guilty about. A good balance leads to the psychosocial
strengths of purpose.

The fourth stage is school age, is approximately six to eleven years old. The child’s world
broadens technical skills are learned and feelings of competence, enlarged. Children enter new
world of the neighborhood and the school. In Erikson’s view, when children come to believe
that they cannot achieve according to their school, family, or peers, their sense of mastery will
give way to personal inferiority. Thus, they become incapable of facing the transitory
adolescent years which lie directly ahead. Parents must encourage, teachers must care, peers
must accept. Maladaptation Malignancy Narrow Virtuosity: we see this in children who aren’t
allowed to “be children” the ones that parents or teachers push into one area of competence,
without allowing the development of broader interests”. Inertia: this includes all of us who
suffer from the “inferiority complexes” Alfred Adler talked about. A happier thing is to develop
the right balance of industry and inferiority a– that is, mostly industry with just a touch of
inferiority to keep us sensibly humble. Then we have the virtue called competency.

The fifth stage is adolescence, is approximately twelve to eighteen years old. According to
Erikson, this stage is characterized by an identity – formation crisis. The question “Who am I
and what can I do when I become an adult?” confronts the adolescent. His struggle is based not
only on societal demands as an emerging adult, but also on the pubescent age. Since an
adolescent spends more time with his friend, the peer group now becomes an essential source
of general rules of behavior. Maladaptation Malignancy Fanaticism: believes that his way is the
only way. Repudiation – they reject their membership in the world of adults and, even more,
they reject their need for an identity. If you successfully negotiate this stage, you will have the
virtue Erikson called fidelity.

The sixth stage is young adult, is approximately 19 to forty years old. In this stage the
individual develops a warm and intimate relationship with another person. If such sense of
intimacy is not acquired during this time of life, a sense of isolation develop instead. Such
attitude is reflected in the ability to trust others in a close and intimate manner. Maladaptation
Malignancy Promiscuity: referring particularly to the tendency to become intimate too freely,
too easily, and without any depth to you intimacy. Exclusion – which refers to the tendency to
isolate oneself from love, friendship, and community, and to develop a certain hatefulness in
compensation. If you successfully negotiate this stage, you will instead carry with you for the
rest of your life the virtue Erikson calls love.

The seventh stage is middle adult, is approximately forty to sixty years old. The middle
years of stage comprise the productive years of adulthood. In this stage, the individual’s
productivity is gauged by his contributions to his family and to society. According to Erikson,
the person who fails to develop this sense of generativity becomes preoccupied instead with
his personal needs and interests with his personal needs and interests or both with a sense of
self-absorption. Maladaptation Malignancy Overextension: illustrates the problem. Some
people try to be so generative that they no longer allow time for themselves, for rest and
relaxation. Rejectivity too little generativity and too much stagnation and you are no longer
participating in or contributing to society. If you are successful at this stage, you will have a
capacity for caring that will serve you through the rest of your life.
 The eight stage is old age, is approximately sixty to death. In the last stage, a person comes
to terms with the temporal limits of his life. It is the fulfillment and culmination. In Erikson’s
view, it is the achievement of a sense of integrity resulting from identification with mankind. If
a person, however, develops an attitude of regret and fear of the end of life, then a sense of
despair emerges instead. Maladaptation Malignancy Presumption: this is what happens when
a person “presumes” ego integrity without actually facing the difficulties of old age. Disdain –
by which Erikson means a contempt of life, one’s own or anyone’s. Someone who approaches
death without fear has the strength Erikson calls wisdom.

IV. Implication to Career Guidance

 Stage 1 – Infant (Trust vs. Mistrust)

Needs maximum comfort with minimal uncertainty to trust himself/herself, others, and the
environment.

 Stage 2 – Toddler (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt)

At early age the children can already make choices and express their will. If encourage, he/she
may develop autonomy and independence. At this stage, the child works to master physical
environment while maintaining self-esteem.

 Stage 3 – Preschooler (Initiative vs. Guilt)

They begins to initiate, not imitate, activities; develops conscience and sexual identity.

Guidance Program:
Career day activities for preschool are already implemented in school to respond to the
curiosity of the child about the world around them so that in the future, they will not jump
into things without proper consideration of their abilities.

 Stage 4 – School Age ( Industry vs. Inferiority)

At this stage, the child tries to develop a sense of self-worth by refining skills. Children who
successfully establish a sense of industry have the beginnings of the capacity to feel useful;
they begin to feel confident in their abilities to make things (and to make them well); and they
gain confidence in their abilities to learn what it takes to be a well-functioning and productive
member of society.

Guidance Program:
Career counseling is already integrated in classroom activities specifically during homeroom
and career week/guidance program. The goal is to encourage and recognize pupil’s ability in
order for them to become productive in school and in their work in the future.

 Stage 5 – Adolescent (Identity vs. Confusion)

Tries integrating many roles (child, sibling, student, athlete, worker) into a self-image under
role model and peer pressure. Central to the definition of occupational identity. During this
stage an individual is experiencing identity crisis.
 Guidance Program:
Career Guidance Program for Junior and Senior High School. The goal is to guide students
develop a sense of self- identity, apply decision-making skills to career planning course
selection and career transitions; and realize that the changing workplace requires lifelong
learning and acquiring new skills.

 Stage 6 – Young Adult (Intimacy vs. Isolation)

Learns to make personal commitment to another as spouse, parent, or partner.

 Stage 7 – Middle Age Adult (Generativity vs. Stagnation)

Seeks satisfaction through productivity in career, family, and civic interests. At this stage, an
individual is also experiencing career midlife crisis/changes due to many factors.

Guidance Program:
As counselor it is my role to inform my students that there is no lifetime career. One may
make career decisions throughout their career life span either by choice or by necessity.
There will be possibilities that one will encounter unexpected career shifts during their
working lifetimes. To prepare them from this unexpected situation, they must be oriented
that career shifts must be desired not just because of the negative factors that may exist but
most especially because of the new opportunity that may come.

 Stage 8 - Older Adult (Integrity vs. Despair)

Reviews life accomplishments, deals with loss and preparation for death. An individual who
achieve what they want (to be and to do) in their lives may feel a sense of fulfillment until
their last breath. Developing a strong sense of identity and career planning really matter.

V. References
Acero Ph.D, Javier Ph.D, Castro Ph.D, Child and Adolescent Development, Chapter 5, Social and
Emotional Development of Adolescents page 94.
Feist, Gregory, Jess, Theories of Personality, Fifth edition Chapter 9, page 232-261
Erikson, Hand out on Educational Psychology retrieved from Perspective Development, Chapter
5 Page 133, Table 4.2
Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development retrieved from
http://www.ppt.net/deyanaflores/eriksons-stages-of- psychosocial-development-16062653