PSYCHO-SOCIAL THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT (ERIKSON)
Erikson proposed a theory
on the basis of social environment. Hence his theory is called Psycho-social
development.
According to him, human
development and personality are categorized in 8 stages. These stages are
called Psycho-social stages rather than psycho-sexual stages. He believed that
development in human beings is a continuous process.
Stage – 1: Trust Vs Mistrust (Birth to 18 months)
Trust
|
Mistrust
|
·
Trust is Positive.
·
The newly born infant wholly depends
on his mother. She provides the satisfaction of physical need. They develop a
positive attitude of their personality as trust towards their mother.
·
Hope is the basic strength.
|
·
Mistrust is negative.
·
If the physical needs are not
satisfied, they develop a conflict of mistrust with their mother or care
taker.
·
If mistrust is developed, they
develop abnormal characteristics in future life of his personality.
·
This stage will lead to
psychological crisis in their personality.
|
Stage – 2: Autonomy Vs Shame and Guilt (18months to 3 yrs.)
Autonomy
|
Shame
|
·
The child develops a kind of
confidence in them as they grow i.e. physically and mentally strong. They
become autonomic & have self-control in themselves.
·
Will is developed in this stage.
|
·
If autonomy kind of confidence is
not developed then they feel shame and guilt about themselves in manipulating
things.
·
They doubt about themselves and feel
inferior about themselves.
|
STAGE – 3: Initiative Vs Guilt Initiative
Initiative
|
Guilt
|
·
Purpose is the basic strength
developed.
·
The child wants to produce something
new.
·
Develops a kind of initiative.
·
They will be more competitive and
creative.
|
·
If they don’t develop the basic
strength, they will feel guilty.
·
The parents & teachers should
provide proper opportunities to the children to develop positive attitude and
keep away from guilty and make them successful.
|
STEGE – 4: Industry Vs Inferiority
Industry
|
Inferiority
|
·
The basic strength developed in this
stage is competency.
·
The children come forward to accept
challenges and to do hard work.
|
·
If the child is not competent enough
and is not hardworking then they develops inferiority complex among others.
|
Stage – 5: Identity Vs Role Confusion
Identity
|
Role
Confusion
|
·
Fidelity is the basic strength
developed in this stage.
·
They are to be identified in their
peer group.
·
They feel superior when they are
identified by their parents & teachers.
|
·
If the child is not identified by
his parents, teachers, peer group etc. then the child develops role confusion
and thinks that they are not important and their role is not important in
their family & school.
|
Stage – 6: Intimacy Vs Isolation
Intimacy
|
Isolation
|
·
Love is basic strength developed in
this stage.
·
Their thinking becomes clear.
·
They develop intimacy relationships
from their loved ones.
|
·
If intimacy is not developed then
they are in isolation.
·
They are discarded or separated from
their parents and relatives
|
Stage – 7: Generativity Vs Stagnation
Generativity
|
Stagnation
|
·
The basic strength developed is
care.
·
The individual at this stage is more
productive and creative.
·
They want to create or generate
something new.
|
·
If they are not innovate, creative
then they develop stagnation.
|
Stage – 8: Integrity Vs Despair
Integrity
|
Despair
|
·
Wisdom is the basic strength
developed in this stage.
·
All the positive personalities of
child from Stage – 1 to Stage – 8 is integrated.
|
·
If the integration of various stages
of the personality traits are not possible then the result is in despair.
|
Educational Implications:
The following are the important implications of Erikson’s Psychosocial
Development Theory.
v The children in pre-school years encounter trust, autonomy and
initiative. During this stage, teachers have to encourage children to select an
activity or game. Teachers have to be tolerant of mistakes, especially when
children are attempting to do something on their own.
v The children in elementary and middle school years encounter
industry or inferiority. During this stage, the teachers have to make sure that
students have opportunities to set and work toward realistic goals. The
teachers have to provide support to students who seem discouraged.
v The teenagers encounter the search for identity or role confusion.
The teachers have to give students models for career choices and other adult
roles. They have to help students to find resources for working out personal
problems. The teachers have to be tolerant of teenage fads as long as they
don’t offend others or interfere with learning.
