1. Psychosocial Theory Photo: Ted Streshinsky/Corbis
FIGURE 3.1 Although Erik Erikson’s name is typically associated with psychosocial theory, the work is a product of an active collaboration
between Erik and his wife Joan.

2. The Rationale for Emphasizing Psychosocial Theory
Addresses growth across the life span
Assumes that individuals have capacity to contribute to their own psychological development
Takes into consideration the active contribution of culture to individual growth

3. Stages of Development
Figure 3.2 Erikson’s Model of the Psychosocial Stages of Development (Erikson, 1963)

4. The 11 Stages of the Lifespan
Figure 3.4 The 11 Stages of the Lifespan

5. Basic Concepts of Psychosocial Theory
Psychosocial evolution
Proposed by Julian Huxley
Range of abilities that allows us to gather knowledge from our ancestors and transmit it to our descendants
E.g. child care, education, modes of communication
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide discusses psychosocial theory as one of the major theoretical perspectives in psychology and applies to the APA suggested learning outcome 1.2.

6. Basic Concepts of Psychosocial Theory
Six basic concepts
Stages of development
Developmental tasks
Psychosocial crisis
The central process for resolving the psychosocial crisis at each stage
A radiating network of significant relationships
Coping behavior

7. Stages of Development Erikson proposed eight stages of development
A period of life that is characterized by a specific underlying organization
These stages follow the epigenetic principle
Biological plan for growth allows each function to emerge systematically until the individual has fully developed
The themes of earlier stages may reemerge at any point
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide demonstrates one of the major theoretical perspectives in psychology and applies to the APA suggested learning outcome 1.4.

8. Psychosocial Crises Psychosocial crises
State of tension that results from discrepancies between the person’s competences at the beginning of the stage and society’s expectations
From these conflicts, new social capabilities are produced
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide demonstrates one of the major theoretical perspectives in psychology and applies to the APA suggested learning outcome 1.4. This slide also presents psychosocial theory to help explain psychological phenomena (APA suggested learning outcome 1.3).

9. Psychosocial Crises of the Life Stages
Most people experience both positive and negative elements of the continuum
Contributes to the person’s adaptive capacities
Outcome of the crisis is integration of the two opposing forces
Succession of crises occurs in a predictable sequence
Epigenetic principle
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide presents psychosocial theory to help explain psychological phenomena (APA suggested learning outcome 1.3).

10. Psychosocial Crises
What is the purpose in conceptualizing life in terms of crises?
Table 3.3 The Psychosocial Crises

11. Developmental Tasks Havighurst’s concept of developmental tasks
Process by which humans learn tasks required by society to which they are adapting
Society has age-graded expectations
Tasks change with age

12. Developmental Tasks Sensitive periods
Periods of development when an individual is most ready to acquire a new ability
Teachable moments
Developmental tasks may reflect gains in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide uses the overarching theme of sensitive periods in development and applies to the APA suggested learning outcome 1.2.

13. Developmental Tasks Associated with the Life Stages
Table 3.2 Developmental Tasks Associated with the Life Stages

14. Developmental Tasks Associated with the Life Stages
Table 3.2 Developmental Tasks Associated with the Life Stages (continued)

15. Developmental Tasks
Describe a developmental task that may have changed in content from the time of your grandparents to your time
What are some of these changes?
What led to the changes?
Developmental Tasks Associated with the Life Stages

16. The Central Processes for Resolving the Psychosocial Crises
Psychosocial crisis
Reflects discrepancy between developmental competencies at the beginning of a stage and new societal pressures
Central process
Suggests a way that the person takes in cultural expectations and changes self-concept
Example: Imitation in toddlerhood
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide presents psychosocial theory to help explain psychological phenomena (APA suggested learning outcome 1.3).

17. The Central Process for Resolving Each Psychosocial Crisis
Table 3.4 The Central Process for Resolving Each Psychosocial Crisis

18. Radius of Significant Relationships
Age-related demands on individuals are communicated through significant relationships
Over the lifespan, the radius of the circle expands
In adulthood, the radius condenses to a few significant relationships
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide discusses relevant levels of analysis (i.e., system instead of individual; APA suggested learning outcome 1.2).

19. Figure 3.9 The Radius of Significant Relationships

20. Coping Refers to people’s conscious, adaptive efforts to manage:
Stressful events
Emotions associated with the stressors
Begins with appraisal
Results in prime adaptive ego qualities or core pathologies
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide demonstrates concepts that describe antecedents and consequences of behavior from one of the major theoretical perspectives in psychology (APA suggested learning outcomes 1.3 and 1.4).

21. Prime Adaptive Ego Qualities
Table 3.5 Prime Adaptive Ego Qualities
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide demonstrates concepts that describe antecedents and consequences of behavior from one of the major theoretical perspectives in psychology (APA suggested learning outcomes 1.3 and 1.4).

22. Core Pathologies Table 3.6 Core Pathologies (Based on Erikson, 1982)
APA Goal 1: Knowledge Base of Psychology
This slide demonstrates concepts that describe antecedents and consequences of behavior from one of the major theoretical perspectives in psychology (APA suggested learning outcomes 1.3 and 1.4).

23. Evaluation of Psychosocial Theory
Strengths
Highlights social nature of human development
Provides broad, integrative context
Weaknesses
Explanations of the mechanisms are not well developed
Number of stages and links to biological based development

24. Evaluation of Psychosocial Theory
Table 3.7 Strengths and Weaknesses of Psychosocial Theory

25. A Recap of Psychosocial Theory
Which phenomena is the theory trying to explain?
What assumptions does the theory make?
What does the theory predict?

26. The Six Basic Concepts of Psychosocial Theory
Figure The Six Basic Concepts of Psychosocial Theory

27. The Mechanisms for Positive and Negative Psychosocial Development
Figure The Mechanisms for Positive and Negative Psychosocial Development

28. Your Perspective Consider the radius of significant relationships
Where do you fall on the radius in terms of your connections with others?
What interconnections are there between these radii at this point of your life?
APA Goal 4: Application of Psychology
This slide demonstrates how psychological concepts, theories, and research findings can apply to everyday life and be used to explain and guide social issues (APA suggested learning outcomes 4.3 and 4.4).

29. Case Study – Erik Erikson
Reflections
Why did Erikson feel like a “stranger in his own culture?”
What are the biological, psychological, and societal factors that contributed to Erikson’s identity crises?
What factors from childhood appear to be influencing Erikson’s experiences as an adolescent?
APA Goal 3: Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology
This slide offers students the opportunity to use critical thinking effectively (APA suggested learning outcome 3.1) by evaluating the quality of information and behavioral claims, developing sound arguments, and articulating problems clearly (3.3 & 3.4).
APA Goal 7: Communication Skills
This slide provides students the opportunity to communicate effectively in a variety of formats such as writing, oral communication, interpersonal communication, and collaboration (APA suggested learning outcomes 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, and 7.5).

30. Case Study – Erik Erikson
Reflections
Who are the significant figures in Erikson’s life/the radius of significant others?
What factors might have contributed to Erikson’s ability to cope with the challenges of this period of his life, eventually finding a direction and meaning to which he could commit his talent and energy?
APA Goal 3: Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology
This slide offers students the opportunity to use critical thinking effectively (APA suggested learning outcome 3.1) by evaluating the quality of information and behavioral claims, developing sound arguments, and articulating problems clearly (3.3 & 3.4).
APA Goal 7: Communication Skills
This slide provides students the opportunity to communicate effectively in a variety of formats such as writing, oral communication, interpersonal communication, and collaboration (APA suggested learning outcomes 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, and 7.5).

31. Case Study – Erik Erikson
Reflections
Based on Erikson’s account of his childhood and adolescence, how might his life experiences and his cultural context have influenced the nature and focus of his psychosocial theory?
APA Goal 3: Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology
This slide offers students the opportunity to use critical thinking effectively (APA suggested learning outcome 3.1) by evaluating the quality of information and behavioral claims, developing sound arguments, and articulating problems clearly (3.3 & 3.4).
APA Goal 7: Communication Skills
This slide provides students the opportunity to communicate effectively in a variety of formats such as writing, oral communication, interpersonal communication, and collaboration (APA suggested learning outcomes 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, and 7.5).