Page 57 - Demo

Adolescence MODULE 11 187Erik Erikson%u2019s theory of social development illustrates how certain issues peak during different periods of life, including adolescence.39 Erikson divided the life span into eight stages, ranging from infancy to late adulthood (Table 11.1). Each stage has its own psychosocial developmental task. This task is a challenge, and the way the individual handles the task will lead to a more desirable or less desirable outcome. For example, in healthy situations, infants will develop more trust than mistrust, toddlers will develop more autonomy than shame or doubt, and preschoolers will show more initiative than guilt about their attempts to be independent. Let%u2019s take a closer look at what Erikson had to say about adolescence and young adulthood, the two stages you are closest to.TABLE 11.1 Erikson%u2019s Stages of Psychosocial DevelopmentStage (Approximate Age) Issues Description of TaskInfancy (0 to 1 year)Trust versus mistrustIf needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of basic trust.Toddlerhood (1 to 3 years)Autonomy versus shame and doubtToddlers learn to exercise their will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.Preschooler (3 to 6 years)Initiative versus guiltPreschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent.Elementary school (6 years to puberty)Industry versus inferiorityChildren learn the pleasure of applying themselves to tasks, or they feel inferior.Adolescence (teen years into 20s)Identity versus role confusionTeenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.Young adulthood (20s to early 40s)Intimacy versus isolationYoung adults struggle to form close relationships and to gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated.Middle adulthood (40s to 60s)Generativity versus stagnationMiddle-aged people discover a sense of contributing to the world, usually through family and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.Late adulthood (late 60s and older)Integrity versus despairWhen reflecting on his or her life, the older adult may feel a sense of satisfaction or failure.Industry versus inferiorityInitiative versus guiltIdentity versus role confusionRobin/Alamy Michele Constantini/PhotoAlto/ Alamy Nick David/Stone/Getty ImagesTed Streshinsky Photographic Archive/ Corbis Historical/Getty ImagesERIK ERIKSON (1902%u20131994)Created an eight-stage theory of social development.%u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.