Erikson's Stages of Child Development

Many researchers have made attempts to explain the psychological development of human beings as they grow older, but one of the most well-known is the work of psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. Erikson describes human development in terms of eight stages, each of which bears markers which manifest themselves psychologically and socially.

  1. Infant

    • Erikson describes the infant phase of life as a conflict between trust and mistrust. Either the child develops a close relationship with his caregiver or a deep-seated lack of trust in the world around him. This phase lasts from birth to around 18 months of age.

    Toddler

    • The toddler phase of development places the child in a conflict between his growing independence and the shame associated with any failure to properly achieve certain developmental milestones. Walking and toilet training are two key examples of such milestones that can cause the child to doubt himself if they are not handled smoothly. This phase lasts until about 3 years of age.

    Preschool

    • In the next phase of development, the child begins to initiate new behaviors on his own rather than simply imitating the behavior of others. For example, he begins to develop a sexual identity. If the child implements the new behavior too strongly, it leads to feelings of guilt. This phase lasts until age 6.

    School Age

    • This stage, which lasts until age 12, requires that the child learn and refine skills at the risk of embarrassment and feelings of inferiority if he fails. Such skills include the skills learned in school. Success or failure can determine the child's sense of self-worth.

    Adolescence

    • This developmental stage includes most of the teenage years---12 to 18---and defines itself through the young person's search for a suitable identity role. This includes such philosophical factors as politics and religion, as well as the youth's need to integrate into a social circle.

    Young Adulthood

    • Erikson defines this stage as lasting between the ages of 19 and 40 and being primarily a conflict between the desire to form committed relationships, such as romantic relationships or marriage, and the sense of isolation that stems from the possible failure to do this.

    Middle Adulthood

    • In middle adulthood, Erikson describes the need of the person to find a way to be productive, such as through his career, as well as support the next generation through care of his children. This stage culminates at age 65.

    Maturity

    • Erikson defines the final stage, which lasts from age 65 until death, as one in which the individual comes to grips with the facts of the life he has lived and tries to find acceptance in what he has achieved.

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