Erik Erikson S Development Theory

Erik Erikson’s
Developmental
Theory

Erikson’s Theory
• Erikson believes the ego develops as it successfully resolves crises on a social level. This involves developing a sense of trust in others, a sense of identity in society, and assisting the next generation for the future.
• Erikson focuses on the adaptive and creative characteristics of the ego. Including a person’s lifespan Together with the stages of personality development.
• Erikson suggests continued growth and development throughout one’s life.
• Erikson emphasised the importance of the adolescent period, believing it was crucial in the development of one’s identity.

The 8 Stages of Development
Stage 1 - Infancy (birth to 18 months)
Basic Strength: Drive & Hope
Basic Conflict:

Trust vs Mistrust

Biggest Needs: Visual Eye Contact & Touch
Outcome: When care, affection and reliability is shown to children they develop a sense of trust. If this is not provided, mistrust will develop. This creates a sense that the world is an unpredictable and unreliable place.

Stage 2 – Early Childhood – 2 -3 years Basic Strength: Self Control, Will & Courage
Basic Conflict:

Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt

Outcome: Children need to do things for themselves and be encouraged to be independent. Success will lead to a feeling of autonomy, failure will result in feelings of shame and doubt. Biggest Need: Self Esteem

Stage 3 – 3 to 5 years (preschool)
Basic Strength: Purpose
Basic Conflict:

Initiative vs Guilt

Outcome: Children need to asserting power and control.
This will lead to a sense of purpose.
Children will experience disapproval leading to a sense of guilt if they try to exert too much power,
Biggest
Need: Identification

Stage 4

6 – 12 years (school age) Basic Strength: Method and Competence
Basic Conflict:

Industry vs Inferiority

Outcome: Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.
Biggest Need: Good relationship with school & neighbourhood Stage 5 12 – 18 years
(adolescence)
Basic Strength: Devotion and Fidelity
Basic Conflict:

Identify vs Role Confusion

Outcome:
Teens need to develop a personal identity and sense of self.
Success will lead to an ability to stay and be true to yourself, however failure will lead to a weak sense of self and role confusion. Biggest Need: Reality. Fitting in with peers, who am I

Stage 6

19 – 40 years (young adulthood) Basic Strength: Affiliation and Love
Basic Conflict:

Intimacy & Solidarity vs Isolation

Outcome:
Young adults need to form loving and intimate relationships.
Success will lead to strong relationships, however failure will result in loneliness and isolation.
Biggest Need: Solid Relationship with friends & marital partner

Stage 7

40 – 65 years (middle adulthood) Basic Strength: Production and Care
Basic Conflict:

Generativity vs Stagnation

Outcome: Adults need to nurture or create things that will outlast them, often their lifetime. A need to have children or create positive change other people will benefit from. Success will lead to feeling useful and accomplished, while failure will lead to a feeling of shallowness.
Biggest Need: Finding new meanings, getting through mid life crisis

Stage 8

65 years to death (maturity)

Basic Strength: Wisdom
Basic Conflict:

Integrity vs Despair

Outcome: Needing to look back on life and having a sense of Fulfilment.
Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.
Biggest Need: Accepting Death

Client: Nola
Her story
• Nola is a six year old girl recently placed in Foster care.
• Her mother has been using illicit substances and using prostitution to fund her habit.
• They were considered homeless, couch surfing.
• Nola has had limited socialisation with other children

Nola
The behaviour
•Nola has had limited socialisation with other children
•The school has reported ongoing issues with:
•Poor Impulse control
•Difficulty negotiating rules of play with other kids
•Stealing food from other children’s lunch boxes
•Struggles with attending to instructions
•Struggles with following tasks in classroom

Nola
Where does she fit in relation to Erikson’s Theory?
•Nola is 6 years old and would fit into Stage 4.
This is where children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leading to a sense of competency while failure leads to inferiority.
Needing a good relationship with School and neighbourhood

Nola
Developmental Status
Nola is behind in all 4 development stages of:
Physical – Cognitive – Personality and Social.
Physically - she is small for her age resulting from a poor diet due to her mother’s addiction and their Homelessness ie Stealing food
Cognitive – struggle with attending to instructions & following tasks suggests lack of cognitive development in attention and problem solving.
Personality – evidenced in her poor impulse control, lack of emotional development
Social – due to lack of socialisation with other children she has difficulty negotiating rules of play with other children and recognising social norms.

Nola
Theory Critique
• Erikson’s Theory is very popular and gives clear directives of stages of development. • It gives clear directives of what developmental milestones should have been reached by Nola. It also gives us a point of reference to investigate where she is up to in regard to the developmental stage.
• However it doesn’t clearly state specifically what can be done if a certain stage is not developed in a positive way.
• Also there are varying factors in every situation and no one person is the same.
We must be cautious to not base our decisions on one theory alone, but take all factors into consideration. We must not make sweeping generalisations.

Nola
Developmental Issues
The lack of parental nurturing, stimulation and attention through stages 1 to 4 have had an impact on
Nola’s development.
• Homelessness – creating lack of stability & security
• Absent mother -causing lack of trust
• Limited socialisation – difficulty negotiating rules of play and development of social skills and appropriate behaviour with stealing food
• Struggling with instructions/following given tasks/problem solving, suggests Cognitive development impairment.
• Poor Impulse control – relates to lack of self control

Nola
Referrals

The client is now in foster care, in a supportive caring environment.
This should assist in creating a stable and secure home environment.
• Refer client to a GP to assess physical and emotional needs
• School Counsellor/Social Worker/Psychologist to work with the client and foster family in areas of need (upon GP’s advice)
• Work with the school to create awareness and opportunities for growth • Involve the client in fun/social activities she is interested in