How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 277

Here are the main examples of alternative terminology that Erikson
used in later works to describe the crisis stages and other aspects,
which will help you recognise and understand their meaning if you see
them elsewhere.
 Erikson used the terms 'syntonic' and 'dystonic' to describe the
contrary dispositions and effects within each crisis stage - 'syntonic'
being the 'positive' first-listed factor (e.g., Trust) and 'dystonic' being
the 'negative' second-listed word (e.g., Mistrust). Again realise that a
balance between syntonic and dystonic tendencies is required for
healthy outcomes. Extreme tendency in either direction is not helpful.
Syntonic extremes equate to maladaptations. Dystonic extremes
equate to malignancies. The words syntonic and dystonic outside of
Erikson's theory have quite specific scientific medical meanings
which are not easy to equate to Erikson's essential ideas. Syntonic
conventionally refers to a high degree of emotional response to one's
environment; dystonic conventionally refers to abnormal muscular
responsiveness. See what I mean?.. neither literal definition
particularly aids understanding of Erikson's theory and as such they
are not very helpful in using the model.
 Erikson later used 'Adaptive Strength' as a firm description of the
first disposition in each crisis, e.g., Trust, Autonomy, Initiative. He
used the description loosely early in his work but seems to have
settled on it as a firm heading in later work, (notably in Vital
Involvement in Old Age, 1986).
 'Basic Virtues' Erikson also called 'Basic Strengths' (the word 'basic'
generally identified the single main virtue or strength that potentially
arose from each crisis, which would be accompanied by various other
related strengths).
 Erikson (or maybe Joan Erikson) later used the term 'Antipathy' as an
alternative for 'Malignancy' (being the negative tendency towards the
second resulting from unsuccessful experience during a crisis stage).

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