Erik Erikson (1902-1994) has done a great deal of research in the field of human personality and traits. He came up with a theory of Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. Erik was influenced by his observations of the Oglala Sioux and views Freud. He said psychosocial development involves some challenges that the individual has to encounter at every stage of life.

Stage 1 (Birth to 18 months)

Oral–Sensory Stage: It emphasizes that the infants should be given positive care and love by the primary carer to develop a positive attitude towards life. Since the infants are fully dependent on the carer, failure to give adequate warmth, abusing would lead to the child becoming fearful, anxious and withdrawn. The child will not trust anyone and feel worthless and insecure.

Stage 2 (18 months to 3 years)

Muscular Anal Stage: The toddlers learn to gain control of themselves and environment, talk, walk, hold and fiddle around with objects of their interest. They learn the important skill of toilet training as well. During this period, input in the form patience, support and encouragement shown by the carer would reap results in the form of independent and self confident child. Instead a critical or impatient carer could make the child have low self esteem and be shameful of his actions and inability to anything perfectly correct.

Stage 3 (3 to 6 years)

Learning Initiative Versus Guilt: Children take the initiative in creating new games or stories; imagine situations, creative thinking etc. The carer must give them the independence to think and encourage them and teach good behavior. If the carer is harsh and punishes then the child would only feel guilty, continue to hang on to adults and would be a miserable failure in creative thinking and imagination.

Stage 4 (6-12 years)

Industry Versus Inferiority: The children start to understand the meaning of hard work, ownership of tasks and completing them in time. Positive and encouraging words would make them successful and competent and develop self respect. Too much of criticism or ridiculing will lead to inferiority complex, insecurity ,low self esteem and make them incompetent.

Stage 5 (12 -18 years)

Learning Identity Versus Identity Diffusion: At the adolescence period, the children establish strong self and personal identity. They establish a clear and strong identity for themselves based on their ideology and principles. These are mainly based on their inspiration from the society they live in. Those who are not sure of themselves end up with groups that are not looked up by the society.

Stage 6 (18-35 years)

Constant Battle of Intimacy Versus Isolation: The individuals experience intimacy with a few people and have relationships as friends, partner, family etc. A successful relationship is based on concern, trust and mutual respect. But when the relationship fails or does not result in success then the individual feels lonely and isolated.

Stage 7 (35-65 years)

Learning Generativity Versus Self-Absorption: The individual has to contribute meaningfully to the family, work and the community. This way the person would be contribution towards a happy future and would be viewed as contributing and central force in the family. Failure to self absorption would lead to life be being stagnant and issues in the family.

Stage 8 – Old Age

It’s the time when the man is devoid of most of his responsibilities and lives the rest of his life cherishing on his achievement and accepting his mistakes. Death would not seem unthinkable. Those who are mature enough accept death and pass their wisdom to future generations with great joy. But those who have lots of unresolved crisis don’t accept mistakes, failures and death as well and face death with bitterness and anger. They don’t have anything positive to contribute to the future generation.