Personality Development Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson Viewed personality in 8 stages that cover a person’s life span. In each stage a person faces specific developmental changes and certain conflicts and challenges. No one is completely successful in any stage, but the more successful one is, the healthier the personality will be. People must modify their personalities in order to adjust successfully to their social environments A child’s success in the early stages depends largely on their parents An ongoing process that is never final

Erickson’s Stages of Personality Development Trust vs. Mistrust (1st year) Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt (2nd year) Initiative vs. guilt (Preschool years) Industry vs. Inferiority (Middle childhood) Identity vs. Role confusion (12 to 18 years) Intimacy vs. Isolation (19 to 40 years) Generativity vs. Stagnation (40 to 65 years) Ego Integrity vs. Despair (65 to death)

Trust vs. Mistrust Trust Mistrust Receive inconsistent care Consistent Environment Having Basic Needs Met: Respond quickly Holding and Cuddling Playing and Talking Love and care for them Food, clothing, warmth, sleep, etc… Mistrust Receive inconsistent care Receive little love and attention Fear and suspicion toward the world and everyone in it

Trust vs. Mistrust TRUST! These infants see the world as a safe place and other people as helpful and dependable

Cycles of Trust and Mistrust

Autonomy vs, Shame/Doubt 2 to 3 yrs old

Autonomy Develop a sense of independence Developing minds of their owns SAYING NO! Allow children to practice new motor skills, want to do everything themselves Let them practice life skills and make simple choices Gives a sense that they can control their own behavior and their environment Builds confidence They will look forward to meeting greater challenges

Shame Not allowing children to do things for themselves Doubt their abilities Always criticizing and scolding children for not being perfect Question their worth and their abilities to control themselves and their world. View themselves and the world in shame and doubt.

Initiative vs. Guilt Four and five year olds

Initiative Often initiate activities Spend time imaging what they want to do, then think of ways to do those things. Children need to know their ideas, questions, and concepts matter to others Children need chances to create play ideas and put them into action   What parents can do to foster initiative o        Teach children to ask questions, find answers, and form concepts o        Respond positively to child’s ideas o        Offer approval and encouragement

Guilt Parents scold instead encourage Children’s play ideas are not praised Belittle and ridicule children Punishing children for acting on their ideas No encouragement to think or be creative Parents convey to children that their ideas are not valuable or worthwhile The child will feel less confident

Industry vs. Inferiority 6 to 11 years old Children capable of deductive reasoning Learn to follow rules Become interested in how things are made, how they work, and what they do Parents are no longer the only influence on stages. teachers are also major influence School atmosphere can make a difference

Industry Capacity to make a productive effort. What parents can do: Encourage children to do, make, or build projects Stress importance of seeing a task through to completion Praise and reward them for their efforts

Inferiority Feel incapable of succeeding in their efforts Discouraged from doing and making things on their own Not praised for their accomplishments, don’t feel like they can do anything right. May passively accept failure or misbehave to compensate Feel less worthwhile and valuable May seek criticism for doing things wrong—at least they will get attention