psychosocial theory

Question 1

What is the goal of psychosocial theory?

Answer 1

to explain the changes in self-understanding, social relationships, and one’s relationship to society based on biological, physiological, and social systems (expands beyond adolescence into adulthood)

Question 2

How is development produced?

Answer 2

the continuous interaction of the individual and social environment

Question 3

Who developed the theory?

Answer 3

Erik Erikson, with his wife Joan
Professor at Berkeley
Childhood an Society - published in 1950 and revised in 1963
Analytical work shaped his stages of development theory

Question 4

Define psychosocial evolution

Answer 4

human abilities that allow people to gather knowledge from their ancestors a pass it on to future generations
still learn how to acquire new info, ways of thinking, and ways of teaching to others

Question 5

What are the key concepts of psychosocial theory?

Answer 5

• stages of development
• psychosocial crisis
• radius of significant relationships
• prime adaptive ego qualities
• core pathologies

Question 6

stages of development

Answer 6

• developmental stage: a period of life differentiated by characteristics that propose a specific direction for development
• accomplishments from the previous stage allow individuals to overcome new challenges in the next stage (ego strengths emerge)
• follow the epigenetic principle
• stages can be revisited and reinterpreted later in development
• intensity of themes varies between individuals

Question 7

epigenetic principle

Answer 7

• a biological plan for growth that allows each function to emerge systematically until the fully functioning organism has developed
• stages form a sequence

Question 8

8 stages of development and their psychosocial crises

Answer 8

1. basic trust vs mistrust
   - oral sensory
   - is it safe?
   - mother
2. autonomy vs shame and doubt
   - muscular anal
   - self confidence and doubt
3. initiative vs guilt
   - locomotor genital
   - can i do this
   - influenced by family
4. industry vs inferiority
   - latency
   - hardworking or loss of motivation
5. identity vs role confusion
   - puberty and adolescence
   - children, friends, students
6. intimacy vs isolation
   - young adulthood
   - can we love?
7. generativity vs stagnation
   - adulthood
   - will next gen survive?
8. ego integrity vs despair
   - maturity
   - how have I done?

Question 9

psychosocial crisis

Answer 9

• the state of tension that results from the discrepancies between the person’s abilities at the beginning of a stage and the society’s expectations for behaviour at that period
• most experience positive and negative ends of the continuum (spectrum)
• outcome of the crisis at each stage is the balance of the two opposing factors
  represented by impulses, fears and doubts, and learning empathy
• provides ego strengths and meets demands of next crisis

Question 10

is development a smooth process?

Answer 10

no, it requires dynamic tension that reflects struggles and challenges being faced which contributes to the range of capabilities

Question 11

radius of significant relationships

Answer 11

• the channel through which age-related cultural and community expectations are communicated
• number of relationships grows with development
• relationships influence how psychosocial crises are experienced and resolved

Question 12

Prime adaptive ego qualities

Answer 12

consistent efforts to face and cope with crises result in the formation of basic adaptive capacities
develop from the positive resolution of crises and provide resources for coping with the next
emergence of enduring strength
mental states that form a basic orientation toward the interpretation of life experiences
contribute to worldview

Question 13

what is each stages’ prime adaptive ego qualities?

Answer 13

infancy - hope
toddlerhood - will
early school age - purpose
middle childhood - competence
early adolescence - fidelity to others
early adulthood - love
middle adulthood - care
later adulthood - wisdom

Question 14

core pathologies

Answer 14

the result of ineffective, negatively balanced crisis resolution
guide orientations for behaviour
characteristics like distant, uninterested in interpersonal relations, obstruct the resolution of other crises

Question 15

what is each stages’ core pathology?

Answer 15

infancy - withdrawal
toddlerhood - compulsion
early school age - inhibition
middle childhood - inertia (no interest in achievements)
early adolescence - dissociation
adulthood - repudiation
middle adulthood - rejectivity
later adulthood - disdain

Question 16

new directions

Answer 16

integrates 2 additional constructs: developmental tasks and a central process for resolving psychosocial crises
3 new life stages: prenatal development, early adolescence, elderhood

Question 17

additional psychosocial stages

Answer 17

Prenatal development
- interaction of genetically guided plan for fetal development and environment
- environment is influenced by social and cultural contexts
2 adolescence stages
- split due to onset of puberty, need for education before entering the world of work, changes in the structure of the educational system, and the variety of life choices available
early adolescence
- focus on social and group identity
- ties to psychosocial transitions associated with puberty
- group identity vs. alienation
later adolescence
- focus on individual identity
- an effort to find a meaningful integration of one’s roles that is acceptable and valued by society
elderhood
- adaptive strategies that characterize people who have exceeded the life expectancy of their birth cohort
- transcending mortality vs. death
- immortality vs. extinction

Question 18

integration of developmental tasks

Answer 18

tasks consisting of skills and competencies that contribute to increased mastery over one’s environment
reflect areas of of accomplishment in physical, cognitive, social, self-concept, and emotional development
bridges individuals and society
teachable moments: times when a person is most ready and likely to expend effort to acquire a new ability
mastery of tasks is influenced by resolution of crises in stages before

Question 19

central process for resolving the psychosocial crisis

Answer 19

• a way the person makes sense of cultural expectations and undergoes adaptive modifications of the self
• recognizes new social pressures and expectations, gives expectations personal meaning, and gradually changes

Question 20

what are the stage’s central processes?

Answer 20

infancy - mutuality with a caregiver
toddlerhood - imitation
early school age - identification
middle childhood - education
early adolescence - peer pressure
later adolescence - role experimentation
early adulthood - mutuality among peers
middle adulthood - person/environment fit and creativity
later adulthood - introspection
elderhood - social support

Question 21

identity status

Answer 21

crisis and commitment
crisis
- period of questioning
- role experimentation
- active decision making
commitment
- personal involvement in activities
- relationship that reflect beliefs and values in occupational choice, religion, political ideology, interpersonal bonds
- reflects male oriented culture (later revised)

status is assessed as identity achieved, foreclosed, moratorium, or diffused

Question 22

identity achieved

Answer 22

experienced a time of questioning and exploration
have made occupational and ideological commitments
greater ego strength and sense of identity

Question 23

foreclosed

Answer 23

have not experienced crisis but demonstrate strong occupational and ideological commitments
often reflect parents
if commitments are based off of parents then little self-understanding has been done
greatest need for social approval
ex. arranged marriage

Question 24

psychosocial moratorium

Answer 24

involved in ongoing crisis
an active open time for gathering information and figuring out how one fits in certain roles
no commitments are made

Question 25

identity diffused

Answer 25

may or may not have experienced a crisis and demonstrate a lack of commitment generally have low self esteem procrastinate lack of direction

Question 26

developmental progression of identity status

Answer 26

progression from diffusion to foreclosure, moratorium, and finally achievement regression if status moves back towards diffusion once identity is achieved, status can move back to moratorium extreme events may cause regression

Question 27

types of identity exploration

Answer 27

exploration in breadth: range of options exploration in depth: based on personal values Ruminative exploration: never-ending exploration

Question 28

later-added identity status typologies

Answer 28

carefree diffused: no commitment and aren't bothered by it troubled diffusion: no commitment causes anxiety undifferentiated status: score moderately in all status models

Question 29

how does identity formation apply to men and women

Answer 29

women: deeper exploration with more moratorium focus men: carefree diffusion is more common

Question 30

what is the direction of change over time? how does the theory account for patterns of change and continuity?

Answer 30

systematic changes in ego development reflected in self-understanding, identity formation, social relationships, and worldview human development is a product of ongoing interactions between an individual's biological and psychological needs and societal expectations Predicts an orderly sequence of change in ego development and social relationships from infancy through late life life stages bring abilities and coping strategies to help navigate social relationships and adapt to society addresses issues of continuity and change through life resolution of crises results in the development of prime adaptive ego qualities and core pathologies radius of significant relationships in each life stage tendency to anticipate issues of stages ahead

Question 31

what are the mechanisms that account for growth?

Answer 31

psychosocial crisis epigenetic principle creates tension due to the gap between competencies and societal demands strive to reduce tension by using familiar and learning new coping strategies

Question 32

what are predictable hypotheses or predictions that emerge from this analysis?

Answer 32

Predict that at each stage a crisis occurs and a central process resolves it positive resolution strengthens ego negative resolution creates core pathologies Predict that a crisis is associated with each stage

Question 33

how relevant are early experiences for later development? what evidence is offered to support the theory?

Answer 33

early experiences are important for later development strengths and abilities by achieving developmental tasks and resolving crises help overcome future challenges positive ego qualities vs. core pathologies

Question 34

How do the environmental and social contexts affect development?

Answer 34

focus on continuous interaction between individual and society personal development and societal functioning are mutually dependent and ongoing society influences development through radius of significant relationships reflect positive and negative resolution of crises

Question 35

what factors place individuals at risk at specific periods of the lifespan?

Answer 35

negative pole of crises experienced as it leads to the development of a core pathology positive resolution depends on ego maturity and well being of caregivers societal conditions can also be a risk factor

Question 36

what are some practical implications of psychosocial theory?

Answer 36

key themes for each stage of life can guide intervention counseling identifies potential sources of conflict and offers way to understand how earlier life stages may lead to core pathologies that offer present challenges

Question 37

what are strengths of the theory?

Answer 37

- broad integrative framework within which to study the life span - directions of healthy development across life span - basic ideas have been operationalized - concept of crises offers a model of individual differences within normal development - crisis identifies predictable tensions between socialization and maturation - longitudinal studies support the general direction of development

Question 38

what are weaknesses of the theory?

Answer 38

- explanations for crisis resolution and stage progression need to be developed - specific number of stages and link to genetic plan for development - dominated by male, eurocentric perspective - too much emphasis on individuality rather than connection and social relatedness - lack of elaboration as to how culture encourages and inhibits development