CURRICULUM GUIDE FOR S.C. TEACHER CADET COURSE | EXPERIENCING EDUCATION, TENTH EDITION
Erikson: Psychosocial Development Theory
Stage 1: Infancy (0 to 1 ½ years) / Trust vs. Mistrust
The newborn is completely dependent upon others and learns either to trust those around him
or suffer feelings of mistrust. The infant will either learn to feel secure in the belief that when
he cries because of a wet diaper, someone will come to change it, or he will become mistrustful
that if he cries because of hunger, no one will bring a bottle.
Stage 2: Early Childhood (1½ to 3 years) / Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
In these early childhood years, the child is trying to become autonomous and gain control over
his body. He will either feel proud of himself as he masters potty training, or he will feel shame
and doubt when he experiences difficulty with the task.
Stage 3: Play Age (3 to 5 years) / Initiative vs. Guilt
Between the ages of three and five, the child takes much initiative and is very curious and asks
many questions. Either he is praised and encouraged in his effort, or he is made to feel guilty
and told to be quiet and not ask so many questions.
Stage 4: Elementary School Age (5 to 12 years) / Industry vs. Inferiority
In the elementary school years, the child is acquiring much knowledge and many new skills. Either the young person will feel industrious as he learns to read, write, and do math, or he will
feel inferior when he belongs in the low reading group and makes poor grades.
Stage 5: Adolescence (12 to 18 years) / Identity and Reputation vs. Identity Confusion
Erikson stated that the fifth stage was one of the most important stages for success in life. The
young adolescent either begins to determine who he is and what he wants out of life, or he grapples with an identity crisis.
Stage 6: Young Adult (18 to 25 years) / Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation
Once a young person has figured out who he is, he is ready to share himself with another person. He is ready to have an intimate relationship and start a family, or he will feel isolated and
not connected to society. Unfortunately, some young people want to move into the intimacy
stage before they have mastered the identity crisis.
Stage 7: Adulthood (25 to 65 years) / Generativity vs. Self-Absorption
In the prime adult years, people will either be productive and contribute to society, or they will
become self-absorbed and negative.
Stage 8: Older Adult (65+ years) / Integrity vs. Despair
As the person nears the end of life, he will either feel a sense of accomplishment that his life
made a positive difference, or he will feel despair and regret for all the things he did or did not
do.
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Theme I: Experiencing Learning
Unit 3: Growth and Development
Erikson’s psychosocial theory explains how a person interacts with the world and those around
him. Erikson has outlined eight major dilemmas that are universally experienced over the
course of life. Each dilemma has a positive pole, which represents social maturity on one end
of a continuum, and a negative pole, which represents a developmental crisis on the opposite
end of the continuum. The ages listed in the stages are generally considered the optimal time
for completing the task. People can work through a stage at a later time, but it may be more
difficult, for the tasks are progressive and build upon one another.