This theory explains the human development process through a series of stages defined by eight age groups. It assumes that the social experience, interactions, and relationships strongly influences the growth and development of humans.  

Erikson’s Psycho-social Theory: Eight Stages of Psycho-Social Development

Each of the stages build on the preceding stages and it assumes that for people to develop and successfully move from one stage to another, they have to experience a conflict that serves as a turning point in their development. If a person is able to deal with this conflict, they emerge from one stage to another with psychological strengths that would serve him/her in the rest of one’s life. However, if people failed to deal with this conflict, they may not be able to develop essential needed skills of a strong sense of self.

Erikson also discussed another angel of development in his theory assuming that a sense of competence motivates behaviors and actions. In other words, people become competent in a specific area of development in each psychosocial stage.

The first two stages presented by Erikson discuss the development during the infancy and early childhood.

Stage 1 Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust

This stage represent the age group that falls between birth and eighteen (18) months of age. This stage is considered the most crucial stage of human development as it shapes how the infant sees the world around him. The infant in this stage is completely dependent on his caregiver with limited ability to communicate needs. Therefore, if his needs are appropriately and quickly handled, he develops a trust towards his caregivers and therefore develops an emotional development by learning to trust the people around him. However, if the caregivers fail to meet the infant’s needs, this would contribute to a mistrust feeling resulting in fear. Hence, early patterns of trust strongly influence and shape the human’s interactions with others for the rest of his life. An individual who is able to trust his caregivers is more likely to develop trusting relationships throughout his life.

Stage 2 Early Childhood: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

This stage happens between eighteen (18) months of age until two (2) or three (3) years. In this stage of development, the child explores his ability of self-control to decide whether he can make a specific activity on his own or by the support of his caregivers. Children at this stage strongly seek independence in personal control to gain basic confidence in their abilities. Parents or caregivers have an essential role in this stage through developing confidence in their children’s abilities to do things by themselves and encouraging them while being there to provide support if needed. Children whose parents encourage them to gain this confidence are more likely to become self-confident and independent. Unlikely, the parents who punish for basic and simple mistakes at this age can result in a child with self-doubt and shame.

In conclusion, the early learning stages of individual’s life not only affect his personal growth competencies development, but also strongly influence interactions and relationships with others and shape the social and emotional development.

Interested to know more about this? check out this blog post Early Child Development