1. By: Josh Sampsell, Nichole Bell, Jess Reed, and Jessica Christo
Erik Erikson
By: Josh Sampsell, Nichole Bell, Jess Reed, and Jessica Christo

2. Terms Maladaptation – Incomplete, inadequate, or faulty adaptation
Malignancy – The state of being malignant (showing great malevolence; disposed to do evil)
Autonomy – Independence or freedom, as of the will or one’s actions
Generativity – A concern for people besides self and family
Stagnation – The state or quality of being or feeling sluggish and dull; a failure to develop, progress, or advance

3. 8 Developmental Stages in Human Life

4. Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust
Birth to 1 year of age
If an infant’s needs are met he will develop trust
Some mistrust is necessary to learn to determine who is honest and who is not
If mistrust wins over trust in this stage the child will have issues such as frustration, withdrawal, suspicion, and a lack of self-confidence
Virtue/Strength: Hope/Drive
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Sensory Distortion/Withdrawl

5. Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Ages 1 to 3
The child requires a sense of self-control without a loss of self-esteem
Shame and doubt about the child’s self-control occur if basic trust was insufficiently developed or was lost (such as by an over-controlling parent)
The child encounters rules in this stage
Virtue/Strength: Willpower/Self-Control
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Impulsivity/Compulsion

6. Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt
Ages 3 to 6
The child finds out what type of person it will be
As the child develops a sense of responsibility, its initiative increases
An irresponsible child will have uncomfortable guilt feelings
Virtue/Strength: Purpose/Direction
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Ruthlessness/Inhibition

7. Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority
Ages 6 to 12
The child desires to enter the world of knowledge and work
The child enters school and is exposed to technology
The child learns
Successful experiences give the child a sense of industry (competence and mastery)
Failure gives the child a sense of inferiority and inadequacy
Virtue/Strength: Competence/Method
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Narrow Virtuosity/Inertia

8. Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Adolescence, ages 12 to 19
The first 4 stages contribute to this stage
Concern for identity is at its highest
Adolescents search for their true selves
Virtue/Strength: Fidelity/Devotion
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Fanaticism/Repudiation

9. Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Young adulthood, ages 20 to 25
Intimacy with other people requires that the person emerges from stage 5 with a well integrated identity
If the person does not have a well integrated identity at this point they feel isolated
Virtue/Strength: Love/Affiliation
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Promiscuity/Exclusivity

10. Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation
Ages 25 to 64
The person desires to assist the younger generation in developing and leading productive lives
If a person does not try to help the younger generation, they experience stagnation
Virtue/Strength: Care/Production
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Overextension/Rejectivity

11. Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair
Late adulthood, age 65 to death
The individual evaluates their life:
Previous stages developed properly
The person experiences integrity
Previous stages did not develop in a positive way
The person experiences despair
Virtue/Strength: Wisdom/Renunciation
Maladaptaion/Malignancy: Presumption/Disdain

12. Works Cited
Dewey, Russ. "Erikson's Psychosocial Stages | in Chapter 11: Personality | from Psychology: An Introduction by Russ Dewey." Psych Web by Russ Dewey. Web. 27 Oct <
"Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Human Development, Eight Crisis Stages Human Life-cycle, for Teaching and Learning, Child Development. Web. 28 Oct <
"Psychology History." Welcome to Muskingum University. Web. 27 Oct <