Theories_of_Personality 7th Ed Feist

Feist−Feist: Theories of

Personality, Seventh

Edition

II. Psychodynamic

Theories

9. Erikson: Post−Freudian
   Theory

© The McGraw−Hill^255

Companies, 2009

of Stage 3 exist during Stages 1 and 2, reach full development during Stage 3, and
continue throughout all later stages (Erikson, 1982).

Stages of Psychosocial Development

Comprehension of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development requires an
understanding of several basic points. First, growth takes place according to the epi-
genetic principle.That is, one component part arises out of another and has its own
time of ascendancy, but it does not entirely replace earlier components.
Second, in every stage of life there is an interaction of opposites—that is, a con-
flict between a syntonic(harmonious) element and a dystonic(disruptive) element.
For example, during infancy basic trust(a syntonic tendency) is opposed to basic
mistrust(a dystonic tendency). Both trust and mistrust, however, are necessary for
proper adaptation. An infant who learns only to trust becomes gullible and is ill pre-
pared for the realities encountered in later development, whereas an infant who
learns only to mistrust becomes overly suspicious and cynical. Similarly, during each
of the other seven stages, people must have both harmonious (syntonic) and disrup-
tive (dystonic) experiences.
Third, at each stage, the conflict between the dystonic and syntonic elements
produces an ego quality or ego strength, which Erikson referred to as a basic
strength.For instance, from the antithesis between trust and mistrust emerges hope,
an ego quality that allows an infant to move into the next stage. Likewise, each of
the other stages is marked by a basic ego strength that emerges from the clash be-
tween the harmonious and the disruptive elements of that stage.
Fourth, too little basic strength at any one stage results in a core pathologyfor
that stage. For example, a child who does not acquire sufficient hope during infancy

Chapter 9 Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory 249

FIGURE 9.1 Three Eriksonian Stages, Depicting the Epigenetic Principle.
Reprinted from The Life Cycle Completed: A Reviewby Erik H. Erikson, by permission of W. W. Norton & Company,
Inc. Copyright © 1982 by Rikan Enterprises, Ltd.

1

Infancy

Parts

3

Play age

2

Early childhood

ABC

(^3) A (^3) B (^3) C
(^2) A (^2) B (^2) C
(^1) A (^1) B (^1) C
Stage