Chapter 7 Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory 217As Erikson himself aged, he became less optimistic about old age, and he
and his wife began to describe a ninth stage—a period of very old age when
physical and mental infirmities rob people of their generative abilities and
reduce them to waiting for death. Joan, especially, was interested in this ninth
stage as she watched her husband’s health rapidly deteriorate during the last
few years of his life. Unfortunately, Joan herself died before she could complete
this ninth stage.
Summary of the Life Cycle
Erikson’s cycle of life is summarized in Table 7.1. Each of the eight stages is
characterized by a psychosocial crisis. The psychosocial crisis is stimulated by a
conflict between the predominating syntonic element and its antithetical dystonic
element. From this conflict emerges a basic strength, or ego quality. Each basic
strength has an underlying antipathy that becomes the core pathology of that stage.
Humans have an ever-increasing radius of significant relations, beginning with the
maternal person in infancy and ending with an identification with all humanity
during old age.
WisdomCareLoveFidelityCompetencePurposeWillHopeDisdainRejectivityExclusivityRole repudiationInertiaInhibitionCompulsionWithdrawalTABLE 7.1Summary of Erikson’s Eight Stages of the Life CyclePsychosocial Basic Core
Stage Crisis Strength Pathology
8
Old age
7
Adulthood
6
Young
adulthood
5
Adolescence4
School age
3
Play age
2
Early childhood
1
InfancyIntegrity vs.
despair
Generativity vs.
stagnation
Intimacy vs.
isolationIdentity vs.
identity
confusion
Industry vs.
inferiority
Initiative vs.
guilt
Autonomy vs.
shame, doubt
Basic trust vs.
basic mistrust