Erik Erikson’s theory is a psychosocial theory. Most people who know his work talk about his stages of human development from birth to old age. Erikson thought that people experience a series of life stages. Each has 1) a crisis and 2) a task. The crisis stimulates growth. How a person resolves the crisis will affect their overall social, psychological, emotional, and cognitive development. If the crisis is not resolved, it will be an issue for years to come. So it is important to resolve the crisis in a healthy way.
Trust vs. mistrust (0–1 year-old)
Erikson thought that if infants are treated in a loving way and their needs are met, they learn to trust. If not, they become mistrusting. This is true even when they are very young. Parents or caregivers should encourage the growing child to try things. When the child fails, he or she needs reassurance and love. This helps the child develop a healthy sense of autonomy. But some children are always being told ‘no’ and treated as if they can’t do anything for themselves. Such children begin to feel shame and self-doubt.
Autonomy vs. shame/doubt (2–4 years old)
When they reach preschool age, children need encouragement to start and finish tasks. They need to learn how to cooperate and to make good choices. If this does not happen, they feel guilty because they always seem to fail. Their imagination and independence do not flourish.
Learning initiative vs. guilt (4–5 years old)
By school age, children are forming friendships and following rules. They want to work hard, be responsible, and ‘be good’. When parents or teachers do not encourage them, recognize their accomplishments, and support their efforts, they can develop feelings of being inferior.
Industry vs. inferiority (5–12 years old)
Adolescents are exploring who they are as unique persons. They want to know what their place is in the world. They depend on their peers. They need parents and teachers to be patient with their need to know ‘Who am I?’ and to provide teens with boundaries and freedom.
