Psycho-social by definition is involving aspects of both social and psychological behavior therefor referring to the mind’s ability to adjust and relate to a social environment (Dictionary, 2011). Erikson elaborated on Freud’s psychosexual stages beyond childhood which each stage has a specific psychosocial struggle that contributes to personality (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 242). Adolescence and forward, the psychosocial struggle becomes identity crisis, which is a turning point that may strengthen or weaken personality (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 243). During the observations, I could see how the struggles and identity crisis could modify an identity, either positive or negative due to the increased vulnerability of the struggle. Erikson’s eight stages of the life cycle play a large role in the observation of a person and their personality. A person can hold up age timeframes during each cycle if they have not had a struggle or crisis to overcome. This author witnessed how environmental and social factors can create a struggle that could not be overcome and resulting in a negative outcome. This author also witnessed how a psychosocial struggle happened to exist for years, but finally coming to terms and moving to the next stage of the life cycle.

Trends in Psychosocial Development

Trending results during this author’s observation had a foundation of life-span development associated with Erikson’s development stages. This author observed traits that would be consistent with development and social activity or environmental learning. Observing a two year old, during early childhood development and socioemotional development and comparing to Erikson’s stages of development are truly coincided. Early childhood plays a large role in the developing of “The self”, and emotional maturity as well as moral understanding and gender awareness (Santrock, 2009). Observing this author’s toddler, which is twenty-two months old, the development process has grown tremendously in a matter of months. According to Erikson’s psychosocial stage that is associated with early childhood is initiative versus guilt (Santrock, 2009) and this applies to a toddler when learning their own personality through trial and error. This author often observes that the toddler will struggle with power and looks at the parents as unreasonable or disagreeable. Trends during development tend to stick with categories such as self-understanding, understanding others, and emotions. Progression through age groups and stages has added trends and influences such as self-esteem, self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-regulation (Santrock, 2009). Biological as a person grows they change by getting taller, eyes changing color, and physical functioning. Psychological a person grows from environment or social influences as well as nurturing from parents. The psychosocial adapts the psychological and social interactions to help develop a personality. Starting at birth Erikson’s development involves trust versus mistrust and the basic strength of drive and hope (Harder, 2009). During infancy, a child will learn trust where everything is okay or they may end up with mistrust because needs are not met. Early childhood the stage is associated with autonomy versus shame with basic strengths of self-control, courage, and will (Harder, 2009). A child during this stage will build self-esteem and gain more control over their bodies while acquire new skills. Children during this stage start to learn right from wrong and have the most significant relationship with parents (Harder, 2009). Personality developed through the first four stages starts with trust leads to self-control then to find a purpose, and method and competence. Stage 5 is the most crucial stage, which entails identity versus role confusion so what has been developed prior can change at this stage from family or social interactions. Adolescence changes from what has been done to what is done and this stage can be associated with as limbo because a person is neither a child nor adult.

Erikson versus Freud

Freud thought that as children grow they focus on pleasure and sexual impulses, which a child will go through five stages of psychosexual development such as oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital (Santrock, 2009, p. 22). Erikson believed that we developed in psychosocial stages compared to Freud’s psychosexual stages. Freud thought of the primary motivation for behavior is sexual and Erikson thought of the social aspect and the desire to affiliate with other people (Santrock, 2009). Freud’s first stage is the oral phase and it is associated for infants to obtain life-sustaining nourishment and show love toward their mother (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 40). The anal phase is where children receive satisfaction from destroying or losing objects and want to avoid toilet training (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 41). In the later part of the anal phase children take a friendly interest toward toilet training and get pleasure from defecating resulting in presenting feces to the parents as a prize. If the gift is accepted then they will grow generous but if the gift is rejected, they will find another source of pleasure such as withholding feces. The phallic phase of psychosexual development has identity recognition from male to female due to anatomical difference. The parents suppress masturbation and a male identifies with the father and wants to be his father until he develops a sexual desire for his mother (Feist & Feist, 2009). The latency period is around 4-5 years old and children repress sexual drive and direct the energy toward school, friendship’s, hobbies, and non-sexual activities. Genital Period is during puberty the sexual drive comes back to play, but pointed toward another person instead of himself or herself.

Erikson looked at infancy paralleling it to Freud’s oral phase but adding a broader focus away from just the mouth. Erikson thought that infants take in not only through the mouth but also through other various sense organs (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 251). Erikson used trust and mistrust on the relationship of the infant with the caregiver or parents. Erikson once again paralleled Freud’s anal stage with early childhood but took a broader view by not only mastering the sphincter muscle but other body functions such as urinating, walking, throwing, and holding (Feist & Feist, 2009). Erikson brought doubt and shame when having unsuccessful attempts at autonomy. Erikson’s third stage is considered the play stage covering the same time as Freud’s phallic phase. Erikson believed that a child would identify with their parents, language, curiosity, imagination and the ability to set goals (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 255). The last comparative stage is the latency stage where Erikson believed that the world of the child has been expanded beyond the family to include peers, teachers, and other adult models (Feist & Feist, 2009). During the latency phase children learn to do things well and to accomplish goals as well as remain busy.

This author feels that Freud made amazing strides in psychology but his placement of theories appeared off. Erikson’s theory is more adaptive and fulfilled by including social interactions instead of just focusing on sexual tendencies. Erikson thought of social interaction and fulfillment as a way to grow and develop personality within the family and outside interactions. Erikson stages of development cover a wider range of ages as we are always growing and some stages may take longer to move on to the next stage.

Dictionary. (2011). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cooperation

Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory. In M. Ryan (Ed.), Theories of Personality (7th ed., p. 242). [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from

Harder, A. F. (2009). The Developmental Stages of Erik Erikson. Support 4 Change. Retrieved from http://www.learningplaceonline.com/stages/organize/Erikson.htm

Santrock, J. W. (2009). Early Childhood. In J. Allison (Ed.), Life-Span Development (12th ed., pp. 206-277). University of Texas : McGraw-Hill.