Erikson's psychosocial stages
- Theory
Erikson described eight life stages, each with a social conflict to resolve, from trust in infancy to integrity in old age.
What it is
Erik Erikson extended psychoanalytic ideas to the whole life span and placed the focus on social relationships. He proposed eight stages, each defined by a conflict between two outcomes; resolving it well gives a lasting strength (virtue), while unresolved conflicts can be revisited later. It is a descriptive framework that is useful clinically, but it has limited direct research support and reflects a Western view of the life course.
Key facts
- Erikson's stages cover the whole life; Freud's psychosexual stages stop at adolescence.
- Identity diffusion, foreclosure (identity taken over without exploration), moratorium and achievement were later described by Marcia as identity statuses.
- The ages are approximate and vary with culture, education and life events.
- Chronic illness can disturb the task of the stage: a hospitalized adolescent may struggle most with loss of privacy and independence.
Erikson's eight stages
| Approximate age | Conflict | Strength if resolved | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 year | Trust versus mistrust | Hope | A baby whose cries are answered learns the world is safe |
| 1 to 3 years | Autonomy versus shame and doubt | Will | A toddler insists on putting on his own shoes |
| 3 to 6 years | Initiative versus guilt | Purpose | A child plans a game and leads friends in it |
| 6 to 11 years | Industry versus inferiority | Competence | A pupil is proud of finishing a science project |
| Adolescence (about 12 to 18) | Identity versus role confusion | Fidelity | A teenager tries out styles, groups and career ideas |
| Young adulthood (about 19 to 29) | Intimacy versus isolation | Love | A young adult builds a committed partnership |
| Middle adulthood (about 30 to 64) | Generativity versus stagnation | Care | A surgeon mentors residents |
| Late adulthood (65 and older) | Integrity versus despair | Wisdom | An older woman reviews her life with acceptance |
Clinical notes
- Respect for autonomy in toddlers (simple choices) and for privacy in adolescents follows directly from Erikson's tasks.
- In palliative care, life review supports the integrity task of old age.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which Erikson stage corresponds to a 2-year-old insisting on feeding himself?
Autonomy versus shame and doubt (about 1 to 3 years).
Which conflict defines adolescence in Erikson's model?
Identity versus role confusion.
What is generativity?
Concern for guiding and supporting the next generation, through parenting, work or mentoring; its failure is stagnation.
What is a main limitation of Erikson's theory?
It is descriptive, has limited direct research support and reflects a Western view of the life course.
Connections
Educational content on behavior and the clinical relationship; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for assessment by a health professional. If you or someone near you is at risk, seek help now from an emergency service or a mental-health helpline.
Sources: Midlife Eriksonian Psychosocial Development: Setting the Stage for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Late Life (Developmental Psychology (PubMed Central), 2016); Human Development and Pastoral Care in a Postmodern Age: Donald Capps, Erik H. Erikson, and Beyond (Journal of Religion and Health (PubMed Central), 2018).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.