Erickson's 8 Stages Of Development

388 Words2 Pages
Erikson saw development as a passage through a series of eight different stages: Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Identity Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Integrity vs. Despair. Each of these stages has particular goals, concerns, accomplishments, and dangers. The stages are interdependent: Accomplishments at later stages depend on how conflicts are resolved in the earlier years. A person does not necessarily have to have a positive outcome in each crisis to move onto the next. At each stage, Erikson suggested that the individual faces a developmental crisis--a conflict between a positive alternative and a potentially unhealthy alternative. For example, during the sixth You must Login to view the entire essay. If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free! stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation if a person’s significant other cheats on them or dies in a tragic accident that person may never wish to open themselves up again for fear of being hurt or cannot bare to deal with such pain again and choose to be isolated. The way in which the individual resolves each crisis will have a lasting effect on that person’s self-image and view of society. According to the theory, successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and successful interactions with others. Failure to successfully complete a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further stages and therefore a more unhealthy personality and sense of self. The outcome of one stage, however, is not permanent and can be altered by later experiences. View full essay .Plagiarism Warning The essay examples on Anti Essays are for research purposes ONLY. Do NOT submit an essay example as your own. If you use any information from a sample essay, please cite it. MLA and APA
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