Psychosocial Theory of Development

(Source:  http://www.tankonyvtar.hu)

By:  Kimberly Swanson, PsyM, LPC

The psychosocial theory was created and developed by Erik Erikson (psychologist). Erikson's psychosocial theory is an expansion of Freud's psychoanalytic theory. According to Erikson's (1959) theory of psychosocial development, there are eight phases. Like Freud, Erikson states that crisis takes place during each stage of development. In Erikson (1963), when problems take place during psychosocial stages of development, they take place due to the mental needs of the individual (i.e., psycho) working against the needs of the general public (i.e., social).

According to Erikson's theorization, successfully completing each phase can enable outcomes of having a healthy personality and acquiring good solid morals. Essential virtues include traits that will allow the ego to overcome tragic situations or circumstances.

Not completing a particular stage in development can lessen the chance of achieving more advanced phases and cause a more unhealthy personality and a sense of identity. Fortunately, these phases can be changed and improved over time. 

The following charts are Erikson's 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development:

Chart from McLeod (2013)

References

Erikson, E. H. (Ed.). (1963). Youth: Change and challenge. Basic books.

Erikson, E. H., Paul, I. H., Heider, F., & Gardner, R. W. (1959). Psychological issues (Vol. 1). International Universities Press.

McLeod, S. A. (2013). Erik Erikson. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html.

Psychology Essence Channel

Follow along with on the Psychology Essence Channel  

Lecture on Psychosocial Development Theory by Kimberly Swanson, PsyM, LPC

Last Updated - 03/16/2022

Copyrighted 2016, 2022, 2025 by Psychology Essence

How Psychologist and Economist Work Together in Research?

By:  Kimberly Swanson, MS-Psy, CNA

Many psychologists and economist share data from their research because each piece of their studies fills in missing gaps.  For instance, if a psychologist does a research on patients that are uninsured, their finding may  explain the purpose behind human behaviors.  Their research may explain certain behaviors such why some patients are not going to doctor appointments  or  why some patients are not getting the adequate treatments for their condition?

 An economist may go into more detail about the financial conditions and the economy for the reasons why an uninsured patient do not get the medical assistance that they may need.   Combining or sharing research between health psychologist and economists in these examples show how the study can show so much more details and give a broader prospective of the problems with uninsured patients. Sociology and psychology can benefit from each other because sociology explains the social aspect whereas psychology explains the behavior.

Updated 9/23/16

Copyright in 2013-2016 by ©Messenger Publishing, Inc.

What is a Health Psychologist?

By:  Kimberly Swanson, PsyM, LPC

Health psychologists conduct studies and research on health-related issues such as how patients cope while living with cancer.  An example is when a health psychologist gets to the root of the problem of a patient's situation.  The health psychologist would try to help the patient with trying to break their old smoking habits.  A medical doctor (e.g. physician or psychiatrist) may recommend medication for the patient to better cope with withdrawing from their smoking dependency, whereas the psychologist or psychotherapist may take a look into some possible lifestyle changes and adjustments.

Updated 3/16/22

Copyright in 2013-2022 by © Purpoz Counseling & Welliness Center, LLC