Erikson Theory

Erik Erikson developed a theory that every person has to go through in their life, but each person has to go through each step and cannot jump steps. Many people believed in Erikson’s theory and how there has to be a various stages of steps a person has to go through. The real question is, who is Erik Erikson? In 1902, near Frankfort, Germany, Erick Erikson was born to Danish parents. During Erikson’s early years of life he found an interested in art and began to study in Europe. After a year, Erickson decided to return home to Germany, where he got accepted into art school and went towards with his passion. Many years passed and with Erikson’s degree, he started to teach art to children from different countries for abundant amount of years.

According to Saul McLeod (2008), in his article, Erik Erikson, he states, “Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development has eight distinct stages, taking in five stages up to the age of 18 years and three further stages beyond, well into adulthood. Erikson suggests that there is still plenty of room for continued growth and development throughout one’s life” (Paragraph 7). Erikson developed his theory of their being eight different psychosocial stages that a human being will encounter during their life. The eight states are: First, Trust vs. Mistrust, this is the first stage that Erikson developed in his theory. This stage will occur from a person’s birth to one year of their life. Trust is an essential part for children to see the trustfulness of other and the fundamental sense of building a relation through trustworthiness. For an example, Erikson decided that if an infant received food and comforted when needed the child will be able to develop a sense of trust for the caregiver. Not only was Erickson determined that children need a sense of comfort to develop trust, but mistrust is necessary for children to learn the difference between honest and a dishonest person in their life. Second, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, this is Erick Erikson second stage of his development theory children will go through between two and three years old. This is the time children can develop a sense of self-control without a loss of their own self-esteem. When children can be independent from the trust they have gain. If trust and a supportive atmosphere were not provided to a child, where the parents were over controlling, children will experience a low self-esteem and will always doubt their abilities. Third, Initiative vs. Guilt will begin to occur between ages four and five. During this time a child will be more independent to realize who she/he