Erik erikson theory early childhood education

This stage covers the period of early adulthood when people are exploring personal relationships. Erikson believed it was vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people. Those who are successful at this step will form relationships that are enduring and secure. Remember that each step builds on skills learned in previous steps.

Erikson believed that a strong sense of personal identity was important for developing intimate relationships. Studies have demonstrated that those with a poor sense of self tend to have less committed relationships and are more likely to struggler with emotional isolation, lonelinessand depression. Successful resolution of this stage results in the virtue known as love.

It is marked by the ability to form lasting, meaningful relationships with other people. Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having children or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the world.

Erik erikson theory early childhood education: He believed that the environment

During adulthood, we continue to build our lives, focusing on our career and family. Those who are successful during this phase will feel that they are contributing to the world by being active in their home and community. Care is the virtue achieved when this stage is handled successfully. Being proud of your accomplishments, watching your children grow into adults, and developing a sense of unity with your life partner are important accomplishments of this stage.

The final psychosocial stage occurs during old age and is focused on reflecting back on life. Erikson's theory differed from many others because it addressed development throughout the entire lifespan, including old age. Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.

At this stage, people reflect back on the events of their lives and take stock. Those who look back on a life they feel was well-lived will feel satisfied and ready to face the end of their lives with a sense of peace. Those who look back and only feel regret will instead feel fearful that their lives will end without accomplishing the things they feel they should have.

Those who are unsuccessful during this stage will feel that their life has been wasted and may experience many regrets. The person will be left with feelings of bitterness and despair. Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity.

Erik erikson theory early childhood education: Erikson's work is focused

Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a general feeling of satisfaction. These individuals will attain wisdom, even when confronting death. Erikson's theory also has its limitations and attracts valid criticisms. What kinds of experiences are necessary to successfully complete each stage? How does a person move from one stage to the next?

One major weakness of psychosocial theory is that the exact mechanisms for resolving conflicts and moving from one stage to the next are not well described or developed. The theory fails to detail exactly what type of experiences are necessary at each stage in order to successfully resolve the conflicts and move to the next stage. One of the strengths of psychosocial theory is that it provides a broad framework from which to view development throughout the entire lifespan.

It also allows us to emphasize the social nature of human beings and the important influence that social relationships have on development. Researchers have found evidence supporting Erikson's ideas about identity and have further identified different sub-stages of identity formation. Other research suggests, however, that identity formation and development continues well into adulthood.

The theory was significant because it addressed development throughout a person's life, not just during childhood. It also stressed the importance of social relationships in shaping personality and growth at each point in development. See how much you've learned or maybe already knew! It is important to remember that the psychosocial stages are just one theory of personality development.

Some research may support certain aspects of this theoretical framework, but that does not mean that every aspect of the theory is supported by evidence. The theory can, however, be a helpful way to think about some of the different conflicts and challenges that people may face as they go through life. It is also easy to erik erikson theory early childhood education at each stage of Erikson's theory and consider how it can apply to your life.

Learning about each stage can provide insight into what you might face as you age. It can also help you reflect on things that may have happened in the past and help you see ways you might be able to improve your coping skills to better deal with today's challenges. The recovery process utilizing Erikson's stages of human development. Community Ment Health J.

It is Froebel who is credited with founding kindergarten which was based on his belief that young children need their own space for learning separate from adults — save for the teacher and aides. Her approach was to view the children as sources of knowledge with the teacher or educator acting as a social engineer. Her hands-on approach to instruction with the learning environment being deemed as vital as the knowledge itself has transformed academic success for many children who did not respond well to traditional classroom methods.

Vygotsky believed that social interaction is an important vehicle for child development on linguistic, social, and cognitive levels. He introduced the concept of a teacher as more of a learning facilitator where the child learns by working with someone more capable than the child typically a teacher or parent. The teacher helps the child with tasks that are just beyond or just within the capability of the child.

He also believed that grouping children of mixed ages in a learning environment supports their skill and knowledge acquisition. He believed that children learn by interacting with their environment actively and directly. This is how they process new information and make it useable to them. He emphasized that parents and educators are each integral in supporting and encouraging the success a child has in life at every psychosocial stage of development.

By providing the support that is appropriate for the stage, it results in a positive learning experience. There are many other great minds that helped shape our educational system and lend a deeper understanding of early learning in children. It is well worth exploring this further when developing a personal teaching style. The true roots of early childhood education are not entirely clear.

There are several names that are noted when discussing the father, or founder, of early childhood education. The truth is many great minds have laid stones for that path. However, there are a few that rise to the top. Strategies may include:. Read our in-depth article on Jean Piaget here. Read our in-depth article on Lev Vygotsky here. His legacy continues to shape contemporary research, educational policy, and professional practice in the field of child development.

For instance:. This may involve:. We have also examined the practical applications of his ideas, their limitations and critiques, and their ongoing influence on research and practice in the field. By understanding the psychosocial challenges children face at each stage of development, practitioners can:. Practitioners should:. Understanding the connections between these theories can help early years professionals provide sensitive, responsive care that promotes healthy psychosocial development.

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. Kathy Brodie May 7, A Comprehensive Guide for Early Years Professionals and Students Erik Erikson created the theory of psychosocial development, which is part of the field of developmental psychology.

Download this Article as a PDF. Table of contents. Historical Context and Influences. Key Concepts and Theories. Psychosocial Development Theory. Epigenetic Principle. This is believed to occur because the individuals in this time of life strive to be autonomous. As their bodies and minds start to deteriorate, they want to find a sense of balance.

They will cling to their autonomy so that they will not need to be reliant on others for everything. The final developmental task is retrospection: people look back on their lives and accomplishments. Practices such as narrative therapy can help individuals reinterpret their minds pertaining to their past and allow them to focus on the brighter aspects of their lives.

If they look back on a life of disappointments and unachieved goals, they may instead develop a sense of despair. This stage can occur out of the sequence when an individual feels they are near the end of their life such as when receiving a terminal disease diagnosis. When looking back on life, a person should hope to find both meaning and order.

Erikson ties this stage of development back into the first stage, trust vs mistrust. If a person at the end of their life fears death, then it could influence children to possibly fear life. If an adult is able to overcome any fears of death, then it can reinforce children to not be afraid of the life ahead of them. Addressing these new challenges requires "designating a new ninth stage".

Erikson was ninety-three years old when she wrote about the ninth stage. Joan Erikson showed that all the eight stages "are relevant and recurring in the ninth stage". For example, in the first stage infancythe psychosocial crisis was "Trust vs.

Erik erikson theory early childhood education: The first stage of Erikson's

Mistrust" with Trust being the "syntonic quotient" and Mistrust being the "dystonic". Trust: Hope" In the ninth stage, "elders are forced to mistrust their own capabilities" because one's "body inevitably weakens". Yet, Joan Erikson asserts that "while there is light, there is hope" for a "bright light and revelation". Autonomy: Will" Ninth stage elders face the "shame of lost control" and doubt "their autonomy over their own bodies".

So it is that "shame and doubt challenge cherished autonomy". Industry: Competence" Industry as a "driving force" that elders once had is gone in the ninth stage. Being incompetent "because of aging is belittling" and makes elders "like unhappy small children of great age". Identity: Fidelity" Elders experience confusion about their "existential identity" in the ninth stage and "a real uncertainty about status and role".

Intimacy: Love" In the ninth stage, the "years of intimacy and love" are often replaced by "isolation and deprivation". Relationships become "overshadowed by new incapacities and dependencies". Generativity: Care" The generativity in the seventh stage of "work and family relationships", if it goes satisfactorily, is "a wonderful time to be alive".

In one's eighties and nineties, there is less energy for generativity or caretaking. Thus, "a sense of stagnation may well take over". Integrity: Wisdom" Integrity imposes "a serious demand on the senses of elders". Wisdom requires capacities that ninth stage elders "do not usually have". The eighth stage includes retrospection that can evoke a "degree of erik erikson theory early childhood education and despair".

In the ninth stage, introspection is replaced by the attention demanded to one's "loss of capacities and disintegration". Living in the ninth stage, Joan Erikson expressed confidence that the psychosocial crisis of the ninth stage can be met as in the first stage with the "basic trust" with which "we are blessed". Erikson was a student of Anna Freud[ 57 ] the daughter of Sigmund Freudwhose psychoanalytic theory and psychosexual stages contributed to the basic outline of the eight stages, at least those concerned with childhood.

Namely, the first four of Erikson's life stages correspond to Freud's oral, anal, phallic, and latency phases, respectively. Also, the fifth stage of adolescence is said to parallel the genital stage in psychosexual development:. Although the first three phases are linked to those of the Freudian theory, it can be seen that they are conceived along very different lines.

Emphasis is not so much on sexual modes and their consequences, but on the ego qualities which emerge from each of the stages. There is an attempt also to link the sequence of individual development to the broader context of society. Erikson saw a dynamic at work throughout life, one that did not stop at adolescence. He also viewed the life stages as a cycle: the end of one generation was the beginning of the next.

Seen in its social context, the life stages were linear for an individual but circular for societal development: [ 33 ]. In Freud's view, development is largely complete by adolescence. Erikson took the foundation laid by Freud and extended it through adulthood and into late life. One major criticism of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is that it primarily describes the development of European or American males.

There is debate as to whether people only search for identity during the adolescent years or if one stage needs to happen before other stages can be completed. Most empirical research into Erikson has related to his views on adolescence and attempts to establish identity. His theoretical approach was studied and supported, particularly regarding adolescence, by James E.

This supports the part of Eriksonian theory, that suggests that those best equipped to resolve the crisis of early adulthood are those who have most successfully resolved the crisis of adolescence. Erikson attributed the development of the stages to the presence of specific tensions which may be present at any moment of a person's life.

This causes another criticism of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development: that Erikson does not go into detail about what causes these stages of development or how they are resolved. There is little information stated about the experiences that result in how a person develops at each stage. Just as there are vague details about the causes of each theory that does not outline the necessary steps to resolve conflict in order to enter the next stage.

Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikidata item. Eight-stage model of psychoanalytic development. Important figures. Important works. Schools of thought. Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. See also. Child psychoanalysis Depth psychology Psychodynamics Psychoanalytic theory.

Stages [ edit ]. Psychological periodization of stages of human development [ edit ]. Hope: trust vs. Will: autonomy vs. Purpose: initiative vs. Competence: industry vs. Fidelity: identity vs. Love: intimacy vs. Care: generativity vs. Wisdom: ego integrity vs. Ninth stage [ edit ]. Development of post-Freudian theory [ edit ]. Criticism [ edit ].