Discuss Erikson’s Stages of Development.

Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development is one of the best-known theories in psychology. It outlines eight stages that span from infancy to old age and each stage has a particular psychosocial crisis associated with it. According to this theory, individuals must successfully navigate through these stages to achieve psychological health in adulthood.

The first stage is trust vs mistrust. This stage occurs during infancy (0-18 months) and involves developing a sense of trust or mistrust in the environment and those around you. During this period, infants need consistent caregiving and if they receive it their feelings of security increase; however, if their needs are not met adequately then mistrust can develop instead.

The second stage is autonomy versus shame and doubt which occurs during toddlerhood (18 months-3 years). At this point, children begin asserting their independence by exploring their environments but may also feel ashamed or doubt themselves when faced with failure. It’s important for caregivers to provide appropriate encouragement during this period so that children can learn how to succeed without feeling like failures.

The third stage is initiative versus guilt which takes place between 3-6 years old. This phase involves learning how to take initiative while still following rules set by parents/guardians or society as a whole – failure to do so can lead to feelings of guilt or an inability to take action due to fear of consequences.

The fourth stage is industry versus inferiority which happens between 6-12 years old. During this period, children become more aware of social norms and expectations placed upon them; success in meeting these standards leads to feelings of competence whereas failure results in feelings of inferiority.

The fifth stage is identity vs role confusion which transpires between 12-18 years old as teenagers begin exploring different roles they could adopt as adults such as career paths or relationships etc.. If teens have difficulty settling on an identity then confusion could arise leading them down potentially harmful paths.

The sixth stage is intimacy vs isolation occurring over 18–40 years old where people are striving for close intimate relationships but may instead find themselves isolated should they fail at forming meaningful connections.

Generativity vs stagnation appears during middle adulthood (40–65) where people are focused on making contributions towards society either through work, family life etc.. If unsuccessful in doing so then apathy or stagnation can occur instead.
Finally wisdom emerges during late adulthood (65+ ) when individuals gain insight into life experiences reflecting on what was learned throughout all the previous stages whilst accepting mortality as well (Erikson & Erikson 1997).

Overall Erikson’s Stages provide us with valuable insight into human development across the lifespan helping us understand why certain behaviours manifest depending on our current situation/stage within life along with how successful navigation through each step affects our overall mental health later down the line. 

References: < br > Erikson E., & Erikson J., 1997 “Eight Ages Of Man: The Essential Psychological Development Of Each Stage Across The Lifespan” Harvard Educational Review website https://www harvardedu /hepg/educational_review/v67_n4 /ericksonpdf < br >