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Oral Phase (Freud)
Lasts up till about 18 months. The issue is about feeding and the erogenous zone if the mouth, lips and tongue. The issue is both about weaning from liquids onto solids but also about biting when the teeth arrive. -
Trust vs. Mistrust (Erikson)
During this stage, the infant is uncertain about the world in which they live. To resolve these feelings of uncertainty, the infant looks towards their primary caregiver for stability and consistency of care. If the care the infant receives is consistent, predictable and reliable, they will develop a sense of trust which will carry with them to other relationships, and they will be able to feel secure even when threatened -
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Erikson)
The child is developing physically and becoming more mobile. Between the ages of 18 months and three, children begin to assert their independence, by walking away from their mother, picking which toy to play with, and making choices about what they like to wear, to eat, etc. -
Anal Phase (Freud)
Here the source of conflict is toilet training. It is about control where the child discovers he can control, please or frustrate parents by expelling or withholding faeces. The Freudians believe this phase is associated with later hostile, sadistic and obsessive behaviour. -
Phallic Phase (Freud)
characterised by the famous Oedipal (and Electra) complex. The erogenous zone is the genitals and this lasts from age 2-5 years. Freud regarded this as the kernel of neuroses -
Initiative vs. Guilt (Erikson)
Around age three and continuing to age five, children assert themselves more frequently. These are particularly lively, rapid-developing years in a child’s life. According to Bee (1992), it is a “time of vigor of action and of behaviors that the parents may see as aggressive." During this period the primary feature involves the child regularly interacting with other children at school. -
Industry vs. Inferiority (Erikson)
Children are at the stage where they will be learning to read and write, to do sums, to do things on their own. Teachers begin to take an important role in the child’s life as they teach the child specific skills. -
Latency Phase (Freud)
No further psychosexual development takes place during this stage (latent means hidden). The libido is dormant. Freud thought that most sexual impulses are repressed during the latent stage, and sexual energy can be sublimated towards school work, hobbies, and friendships. -
Identity vs. Role Confusion (Erikson)
The fifth stage is identity vs. role confusion, and it occurs during adolescence, from about 12-18 years. During this stage, adolescents search for a sense of self and personal identity, through an intense exploration of personal values, beliefs, and goals. -
Genital Stage (Freud)
This is the last stage of Freud's psychosexual theory of personality development and begins in puberty. It is a time of adolescent sexual experimentation, the successful resolution of which is settling down in a loving one-to-one relationship with another person in our 20's. Sexual instinct is directed to heterosexual pleasure, rather than self-pleasure like during the phallic stage. -
Intimacy vs. Isolation (Erikson)
Occurring in young adulthood (ages 18 to 40 yrs), we begin to share ourselves more intimately with others. We explore relationships leading toward longer-term commitments with someone other than a family member. -
Generativity vs. Stagnation (Erikson)
During middle adulthood (ages 40 to 65 yrs), we establish our careers, settle down within a relationship, begin our own families and develop a sense of being a part of the bigger picture. -
Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Erikson)
As we grow older (65+ yrs) and become senior citizens, we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person. It is during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and can develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life.