Two widely cited approaches to
personality development are those of Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson.
Sigmund Freud's stages of psychosexual development. Sigmund Freud developed a treatment theory called psychoanalysis, which is based upon a theory of
psychosexual stages of development (Table
1 ).
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TABLE 1
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Freudian Psychosexual Stages of Development
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Stage
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Age
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Erogenous Zone/Activities
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Oral
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0 to 18 months
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Mouth/sucking, biting, chewing
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Anal
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18 to 36 months
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Anus/bowel and bladder control
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Phallic
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3 to 6 years
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Genitals/masturbation
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Latency
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6 years to puberty
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—/repression of sexual feelings
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Genital
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puberty+
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Maturation of sexual orientation
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Erik Erikson's stages of development. Erik Erikson proposed a theory of development that continues throughout the life span. His theory states that there are universal
life stages and that a specific
psychosocial dilemma occurs at each phase of development. These problems (crises) must be resolved before an individual can move to the next developmental stage (Table
2 .) . Erikson's theory has been credited for accounting for continuity and changes in personality development. It has also been criticized for vagueness and has not stimulated a great deal of empirical research.
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TABLE 2
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Erik Erikson's Stages of Development
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Age
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Psychological Stage
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Period
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Birth to 1 year
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Trust vs. Mistrust Learning that the provider of comfort is reliable, consistent, and predictable
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Oral-sensory
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2 to 3 years
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Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Learning to exercise independence and freedom of choice along with self-control
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Muscular-anal
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3 to 5 years
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Initiative vs. Guilt Planning and executing a task for the sake of actively doing it
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Locomotor-genital
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6 to 11 years
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Industry vs. Inferiority Developing as a worker and producer
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Latency
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Adolescence
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Identity vs. Role Confusion Evolving a sense of self that is reliable and consistent, both for oneself and for others
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Puberty
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Young adulthood
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Intimacy vs. Isolation Preparing for a commitment to affiliation with others and developing the ethical strength to abide by such commitments
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Young adulthood
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Middle age
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Generativity vs. Stagnation Finding a way to support in the establishment and guidance of the next generation
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Adulthood
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Old age
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Integrity vs. Despair Integrating the earlier stages into an acceptance of oneself and a sense of fulfillment rather than looking back in regret at what might have been
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Maturity
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Psychology: Measurement and Statistics
Developmental Psychology: Age 13 to 65+
