Psychosocial Development throughout

human life

Supervised by

Prof. Nadia Abd El-ghany Abd El-hameed

Professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Faculty
of Nursing –Assiut University

Prepared by
Mahmoud Fathy
Aya Salah Abd Elhakim

2025
Outlines
- Introduction.
- Definition of Psychosocial Development.
- Principles of Erikson Psychology.
- Erikson’s 8 Stages of psychosocial development.
- Nursing applications during different stages of Erikson theory.
Introduction
Psychosocial development refers to the development of personality,
including social skills and attitudes. The most influential theory on
psychosocial development throughout the life span is Erik Erikson’s
theory of psychosocial development. According to this theory, individuals
develop through eight stages. At each stage, individuals face a
psychosocial challenge or crisis, which consists of opposing
psychological and sociocultural needs.
Definition of Psychosocial Development
Psychosocial development refers to the lifelong process of growth and
maturation that occurs in individuals within the context of their family
and social environment.
It involves acquiring social skills, emotional growth, and forming an
identity, which are essential for a person's overall well-being.
Principles of Erikson Psychology
Erikson’s Psychology is based on the following principles:
1. Development is a lifelong process:
Development occurs through lifespan and is not limited to
childhood or adolescence.
2. Individuals go through stages:
Individuals go through eight stages of development.
3. Each stage has a psychosocial crisis:
Each stage of development is characterized by a psychosocial crisis
or conflict that must be resolved for the individual to move on to
the next stage.
4. Successful resolution leads to a healthy personality:
Individuals who successfully resolve the crisis at each stage
develop a healthy personality.
 5. Unsuccessful resolution leads to issues:
Individuals who don't resolve the crisis at a stage may struggle
with that issue throughout their lives, leading to problems in later
stages.
6. Culture and society play a role in development:
Erikson’s theory acknowledges that culture and society play a
significant role in shaping an individual’s development and
experiences.
7. Development is influenced by both nature and nurture:
Erikson’s theory suggests that both genetic and environmental
factors play a role in shaping an individual’s development.
8. Development is multidimensional:
Erikson’s theory recognizes that development is multidimensional,
meaning that it involves physical, cognitive, social, and emotional
changes.
Erikson’s 8 Stages of psychosocial development
According to psychosocial theory, Erikson’s theory described the impact
of social experience across the whole lifespan. Erikson was interested in
how social interaction and relationships played a role in the development
and growth of human beings. The theory consists of eight stages of
development over the lifespan, from infancy through late adulthood.
The eight stages of psychosocial development are:
1.Infancy(Trust vs. Mistrust)
2.Early Childhood(Autonomy vs. Shame)
3.Preschool (Initiative vs. Guilt)
4.School Age(Industry vs. Inferiority)
5.Adolescence(Identity vs. Role Confusion)
6.Young Adulthood(Intimacy vs. Isolation)
7.Middle Adulthood(Generativity vs. Stagnation)
8.Late Adulthood(Ego Integrity vs. Despair)
Stage 1: Infancy (Trust vs. Mistrust) (Sensory- oral stage)
This stage occurs between (birth and 1 year of age) and is the most
fundamental stage in life. At this stage, the developmental task is (trust
vs. mistrust) and important event is feeding.
Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliabilty, care,
and affection. A lack of this will lead to mistrust.
Outcomes
 Achievement
If a child successfully develops trust, the child will feel safe and
secure in the world.
 Non-Achievement
 The child will fail to develop trust result in fear and a belief that the
world is inconsistent and unpredictable.

Stage 2: Toddler (Autonomy vs. Shame) (Muscular- Anal stage)

This stage occurs from (1 to 3 years of age) during early childhood. At
this stage, the developmental task is (autonomy vs. shame) and
important event is toilet training.
At this point in development, children control their bowel & bladder and
have to fight against external forces.
Outcomes
 Achievement
Success during this stage leads to feelings of autonomy when the
caregivers allow children to work on developing independence
within a safe environment.
 Non-Achievement
Failures results in feelings of shame and doubt their abilities which
could lead to low self-esteem, ambivalence, and negativism.
Stage 3: Preschool (Initiative vs. Guilt) (Locomotor- Genital stage)
This stage occurs from (3–6 years) during the preschool years of a child's
life. At this stage, the developmental task is (initiative vs. guilt) and
important event is exploration. At this point in psychosocial
development, children begin to take power and control over the
environment through curiosity, purposeful activities, cooperative play,
fantasy and imitation of adults and other social interactions.
Outcomes
 Achievement
Children who are successful at this stage will achieve initiative, self-
guidance, self- obedience, self-confidence, sense of purpose and able
to lead others.
 Non- Achievement
Children who fail to acquire these skills are left with a sense of guilt,
self-doubt, passive, apathetic and lack of initiative.

Stage 4: School stage (Industry vs. Inferiority) (Latency stage)

The fourth psychosocial stage occurs between (6 and 12 years) during
the early school years. At this stage, the developmental task is (industry
vs. inferiority) and important event is school. Through social
interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their
accomplishments and abilities and compare themselves with their peers.
Outcomes
 Achievement
Children who are encouraged by parents, teachers, or peers develop
a feeling of competence, belief in their skills and a sense of pride
and accomplishment in the schoolwork.
 Non- Achievement
Children who receive little or no encouragement will doubt their
abilities to be successful results in feelings of inferiority,
uncooperative, and loss of motivation.

Stage 5: Adolescence (Identity vs. Role confusion) (Puberty &

adolescence)
- This stage occurs between the ages of (12 to 18 year) during the
teenage years. At this stage, the developmental task is (identity vs.
role confusion) and important event is social relationships.
- This stage plays an essential role in developing a sense of personal
identity which will continue to influence behavior and
development for the rest of a person's life.
 Outcomes
 Achievement
Adolescents who are successful at this stage have a strong sense of
identity, self-confidence, establishing intimate relations, exercise
their role successfully.
 Non- Achievement
Adolescents may develop a weak sense of self, poor relation,
aggressive, feeling lost, doubt their selves, experience role
confusion, and drug dependency.

Stage 6: Young adulthood (Intimacy vs. Isolation)

- This stage occurs in ages (18 to 40 years). At this stage, the
developmental task is (intimacy vs. isolation) and important event
is social relationships.
- At this point in psychosocial development, people are exploring
personal relationships and developing intimate relationships with
other people.
Outcomes
 Achievement
Success leads to strong and intimate relationships and the ability to
form lasting, meaningful relationships with other people.
 Non- Achievement
Failure results in loneliness, isolation and having trouble
developing and maintaining successful relationships with others.
Stage 7:
Adulthood stage (Generativity vs. Stagnation)
- This stage occurs between (40 to 65 years of age). The
developmental task at this stage is (generativity vs. stagnation)
and important event is work and parenthood.
- During adulthood, we continue to build our lives, focusing on our
career and family.

Outcomes
 Achievement
Success leads to self-acceptance, sense of self-worth, feelings of
usefulness, accomplishment and engage in meaningful and
productive work.
 Non- Achievement
Failure results in withdrawn, shallow involvement in world, little
connection and little interest in productivity and self-improvement.
Stage 8: Late adulthood (Integrity vs. Despair) (Maturity stage)
- This stage begins around age (65 years) and continues for the
remainder of a person's life. The developmental task at this stage is
(Integrity vs. Despair) and important event is Reflection on life.
- At this point in development, people reflect back on the events of
their lives and take stock to determine if they are happy with the
life that they lived or if they regret the things they did or didn't do.
Outcomes
 Achievement
Success in this stage will lead to sense of satisfaction, peace,
integrity, and ready to face the end of their live.
 Non- Achievement
The person does not feel their life was productive, or has guilt over
things that occurred in the past, it can lead to feelings of despair.

Nursing applications during different stages of Erikson theory

 1st stage (Trust vs. mistrust)
  Ensure parents or caregivers are educated on the importance of
responding to the infant’s needs.
 Provide a safe, nurturing environment that promotes physical
comfort and security.
 2nd stage (Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt)
 Encouraging toddlers to perform simple tasks like feeding
themselves or choosing their clothes.
 Offer praise for successes.
 Use positive reinforcement when the child shows initiative.
 3rd stage (Initiative vs. guilt)
 Encourage creative play and problem-solving activities to foster
initiative.
 When the child makes mistakes teaching lessons rather than
creating feelings of guilt.
 Teach caregivers the importance of initiative while avoiding
excessive restrictions or criticism.
 4th stage (Industry vs. Inferiority)
 Recognize and celebrate accomplishments to boost self-esteem.
 Encourage participation in peer interactions and teamwork, such
as group games or activities.
 Identify behaviors indicating feelings of inferiority, such as
withdrawal, low self-esteem, or lack of interest in activities.
 5th stage (Identity vs. role confusion)
 Encourage them to take responsibility for their actions and learn
from their experiences.
 Provide opportunities for self-expression, such as through
hobbies, discussions, or counseling.
 Help teens set realistic goals and promote healthy self-esteem.
 6th stage (Intimacy vs. isolation)
  Encourage active participation and intimate social or personal
relationship with other people
 Identify signs of isolation, such as avoidance of social
interactions, loneliness, or difficulty forming connections.
 Provide support through therapy, group activities to reduce
feelings of loneliness.
 7th stage (Generativity vs. stagnation)
 Provide education on parenting strategies, including effective
communication and positive nurturing relationships with
children or grandchildren.
 Encourage healthy family dynamics and support individuals in
balancing work and family responsibilities.
 8th stage (Integrity vs. despair)
 Provide support in accepting the changes associated with aging
(e.g. the loss of loved ones).
 Encourage the patient to remember about previous positive life
events and relationships that focus on meaningful experiences
and accomplishments.

References:

 Maree, J. G. (2022). The psychosocial development theory of Erik

Erikson: critical overview. The influence of theorists and pioneers
on early childhood education, 119-133.
 de Ruiter, N. M., van der Gaag, M. A., Jeronimus, B. F., &
Kunnen, E. S. (2019). Introduction to a dynamic systems approach
to psychosocial development in adolescence. In Psychosocial
development in adolescence (pp. 1-16). Routledge.
 McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial
development. Simply psychology, 3(2), 1-3.
 Malone J., Liu S., Vaillant G., Rentz D. & Waldinger, R.
(2022): Eriksonian psychosocial development: Setting the stage for
cognitive and emotional health in late life. Dev Psychol.; 52(3), Pp.
496-508. doi:10.1037%2Fa0039875.

 Knight ZG. (2017): A proposed model of psychodynamic

psychotherapy linked to Erik Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial
development. Clin Psychol Psychother. Sep;24(5):1047-1058.
 Chung D. (2020): The eight stages of psychosocial protective
development: Developmental psychology. Journal of Behavioral
and Brain Science; 8(6), Pp. 86-104.
 Bagnasco, A., et al. (2022). The role of nurses in promoting health
and wellness in the community: A review of the literature. Nursing
Open, 5(4), 426-434. This review highlights the community health
promotion roles of nurses.