PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY

Erik Erikson who developed one of the most popular and influential theories of development.
His theory was impacted by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's work
Psychosocial theory explains changes in self-understanding, social Erikson was a student of Freud’s and expanded on his theory of psychosexual development by emphasizing the importance of culture in parenting practices and motivations and adding three stages of adult development relationships, and one’s relationship to society from infancy through later life.
The stages that make up his theory are as follows:

Stage 1	Trust vs. Mistrust	Infancy from birth to 18 months	HOPE
Stage 2	Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt	Toddler years from 18 months to three years	WILL
Stage 3	Initiative vs. Guilt	Preschool years from three to five	PURPOSE
Stage 4	Industry vs. Inferiority	Middle school years from six to 11	COMPETENCE
Stage 5	Identity vs. Role Confusion	Teen years from 12 to 18	FIDELITY
Stage 6	Intimacy vs. Isolation	Young adult years from 18 to 40	LOVE
Stage 7	Generativity vs. Stagnation	Middle age from 40 to 65	CARE
Stage 8	Integrity vs. Despair	Older adulthood from 65 to death	WISDOM

Trust vs. mistrust is the first stage in Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.
This stage begins at birth continues to approximately 18 months of age. During this stage, the infant is uncertain about the world in which they live, and looks towards their primary caregiver for stability and consistency of care.
If the care the infant receives is consistent, predictable, and reliable, they will develop a sense of trust, which will carry with them to other relationships, and they will be able to feel secure even when threatened.
If the care has been inconsistent, unpredictable, and unreliable, then the infant may develop a sense of mistrust, suspicion, and anxiety.
In this situation, the infant will not have confidence in the world or their ability to influence events.

As toddlers (ages 1–3 years) begin to explore their world, they learn that they can control their actions and act on their environment to get results.
They begin to show clear preferences for certain elements of the environment, such as food, toys, and clothing.
A toddler’s main task is to resolve the issue of autonomy vs. shame and doubt by working to establish independence.

This stage occurs during the preschool years, between the ages of 3 and 5.
During the initiative versus guilt stage, children begin to assert their power and control over the world through directing play and other social interactions.
Caretakers should be positive and supportive when children undertake new tasks.
Should a child fail at a given task, the caretaker should teach them that everyone makes mistakes and encourage the child to try again.

During the elementary school stage (ages 6–11), children face the task of industry vs. inferiority.
Children begin to compare themselves with their peers to see how they measure up. They either develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in their schoolwork, sports, social activities, and family life, or they feel inferior and inadequate because they feel that they don’t measure up.
If children do not learn to get along with others or have negative experiences at home or with peers, an inferiority complex might develop into adolescence and adulthood.

Identity means essentially how a person sees themselves in relation to their world. It's a sense of self or individuality in the context of life and what lies ahead.
Role Confusion is the negative perspective – an absence of identity - meaning that the person cannot see clearly or at all who they are and how they can relate positively with their environment.
This stage coincides with puberty or adolescence, and the reawakening of the sexual urge whose dormancy typically characterises the previous stage.
Young people struggle to belong and to be accepted and affirmed, and yet also to become individuals.
In itself this is a big dilemma, aside from all the other distractions and confusions experienced at this life stage.
Erikson later replaced the term 'Role Confusion' with 'Identity Diffusion'.

People in early adulthood (20s through early 40s) are concerned with intimacy vs. isolation.
After we have developed a sense of self in adolescence, we are ready to share our life with others. However, if other stages have not been successfully resolved, young adults may have trouble developing and maintaining successful relationships with others.
Erikson said that we must have a strong sense of self before we can develop successful intimate relationships.
Adults who do not develop a positive self-concept in adolescence may experience feelings of loneliness and emotional isolation.

This stage takes place during middle adulthood, between the approximate ages of 40 and 65
During this stage, middle-aged adults strive to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by parenting children or fostering positive changes that benefit others.
Contributing to society and doing things to promote future generations are important needs at the generativity vs. stagnation stage of development.
For eg: Developing relationships with family, Making commitments to other people, Mentoring others, Contributing to the next generation
Stagnation refers to being self-centered (neuroticism), Failing to get involved with others, Not taking an interest in productivity, No efforts to improve the self

From the mid-60s to the end of life, we are in the period of development known as late adulthood.
Erikson’s task at this stage is called integrity vs. despair. He said that people in late adulthood reflect on their lives and feel either a sense of satisfaction or a sense of failure.
People who feel proud of their accomplishments feel a sense of integrity, and they can look back on their lives with few regrets.
However, people who are not successful at this stage may feel as if their life has been wasted. They focus on what “would have,” “should have,” and “could have” been.
They may face the end of their lives with feelings of bitterness, depression, and despair.