Comparison of Freud’s Psychosexual Stages and Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

Period of Life Freud Erikson First year of life : Sucking at mother’s Infancy: Trust versus mistrust breasts satisfies need for food and If significant others provide for basic pleasure. needs to get basic physical and emotional needs, infant nurturing, or later feelings of develops a sense of trust. If basic needs greediness and acquisitiveness may are not met, an attitude of mistrust develop. Oral fixations result from toward the world, especially toward deprivation of oral gratification in interpersonal relationships, is the result. infancy. Later personality problems can include mistrust of others, rejecting others; love, and fear of or inability to form intimate relationships. Ages 1–3 : : Autonomy versus Anal zone becomes of major shame and doubt significance in formation of A time for developing autonomy. Basic personality. struggle is between a sense of self- Main developmental tasks include reliance and a sense of self-doubt. learning independence, accepting needs to explore and experiment, to personal power, and learning to make mistakes, and to test limits. If express negative feelings such as promote dependency, child’s rage and aggression. Parental autonomy is discipline inhibited and to deal with patterns and attitudes have world successfully is hampered. significant consequences for child’s later personality development. Ages 3–6 : age: Initiative versus guilt Basic conflict centers on Basic task is to achieve a sense of unconscious incestuous desires that competence and initiative. If children child develops are given freedom to select personally for of opposite sex and that, meaningful activities, they tend to because of their threatening nature, develop a positive are repressed. Male phallic stage, view of self and follow through with known their projects. If they are not allowed to as Oedipus , involves make their own decisions, they tend to mother as love object for . develop guilt over taking initiative. Female phallic stage, They then known as , involves refrain from taking an active stance and ’s striving for father’s love and allow others to choose for them approval. How parents respond, verbally and nonverbally, to child’s emerging sexuality has an impact on sexual attitudes and feelings that child develops. Ages 6–12 : School age: Industry versus After the torment of sexual impulses inferiority of preceding years, this period is Child needs to expand understanding of relatively quiescent. Sexual interests world, continue to develop appropriate are replaced by interests in school, gender-role identity, and learn the basic playmates, sports, and a range of skills required for school success. new activities. This is a time of Basic task is to achieve a sense of socialization as child turns outward industry, which refers to setting and and forms relationships with others. attaining personal goals. Failure to do so results in a sense of inadequacy. Ages 12–18 : Identity versus role Old themes of phallic stage are confusion revived. This stage begins with A time of transition between childhood and lasts until senility sets and adulthood. A time for testing limits, in. Even though there are societal for breaking dependent ties, and for restrictions and taboos, adolescents establishing a new identity. Major can deal with conflicts center on clarification of self- sexual energy by investing it in identity, life goals, and life’s meaning. various socially acceptable activities Failure to achieve a sense of identity such as forming friendships, results in role confusion. engaging in art or in sports, and preparing for a career. Ages 18–35 Genital stage continues Young adulthood: Intimacy versus Core characteristic of mature is isolation. the freedom “to love and to work.” Developmental task at this time is to This move toward adulthood form intimate relationships. Failure to involves freedom from parental achieve intimacy can lead to alienation influence and capacity to care for and isolation. others. Ages 35–60 Genital stage continues : Generativity versus stagnation. There is a need to go beyond self and family and be involved in helping the next . This is a time of adjusting to the discrepancy between one’s dream and one’s actual accomplishments. Failure to achieve a sense of productivity often leads to psychological stagnation. Ages 60+ Genital stage continues Later life: Integrity versus despair If one looks back on life with few regrets and feels personally worthwhile, ego integrity results. Failure to achieve ego integrity can lead to feelings of despair, hopelessness, guilt, resentment, and self-rejection.