While Freud's opinion is that identity is fixed during childhood, Erikson theorized that identity formation continues throughout a lifetime emphasizing significant changes to an individual's sense of self as they experience substantial developmental milestones (Friedman & Schustack, 2016).
Erikson believed a healthy personality results from the successful negotiation of eight specific developmental stages defined as follows:
- Trust versus mistrust
- Autonomy versus shame and doubt
- Initiative versus guilt
- Industry versus inferiority
- Identity versus role confusion
- Intimacy versus isolation
- Generosity versus stagnation
- Ego integrity versus despair
Successfully resolving pertinent crises manifesting at either of the eight stages is considered a successful negotiation of the stage. However, an important caveat to take note of is a successful negotiation does not equate with the complete supplication of the positive trait over the negative, rather a balance between the two because overemphasis of any trait may result in detrimental effects to an individual’s identity (Friedman & Schustack, 2016). Furthermore, successful negotiation is beneficial to advancing through additional developmental stages. Individuals are not precluded from mentally revisiting prior issues and resolving them from renewed perspectives or favorable conditions. In addition, Erikson stressed that such issues or crises are never absolutely concluded. However, individuals face these iteratively throughout their lifetime as their identity evolves and matures (Hamachek, 1990).
Two stages and their successful and unsuccessful negotiations
While Erikson’s first five stages are comparable to Freud’s psychosexual developmental stages, his last three begin where Freud’s stages end. In more detail, Erikson’s intimacy versus isolation stage occurs during young adulthood, generativity versus stagnation occurs during middle adulthood to late adulthood, and ego integrity versus despair occurs during late adulthood as we enter a general retirement age (Hamachek, 1990). These three stages are of grave importance in healthy personalities. Consider, during the intimacy versus isolation stage the individual must find a balance between intimacy and interpersonal relationships, while simultaneously maintaining their own individual sense of self, lest their own identity become lost in the process. Unsuccessful negotiation of this ego crisis may result in an overemphasis in intimacy and could produce complete loss of individuality or can create codependency, whereas an inability to relate interpersonally with others could result in terminal isolation and loneliness. Successful resolution of this stage may result in strong, long-lasting interpersonal relationships, such as lifelong friendships and marriages exemplifying trust, commitment, tolerance and compromise (Hamachek, 1990).
During the generativity versus stagnation stage, middle-aged adults begin to explore their place within the social fabric of the world, realizing they are but one piece of a large puzzle. It is during this stage that individuals develop the ability to be altruistic. Individuals who have successfully negotiated this stage demonstrate characteristics of caring and giving to others, expressions of creativity, and tend to exemplify beneficent values and attitudes. One great example of this is having and raising children, which requires a measure of self-sacrifice. On the other hand, the unsuccessful completion of this stage may result in more self-focus and less likely to rear children or care for elders; they may demonstrate less interest in supporting activities that do not directly benefit themselves (Hamachek, 1990).
References
Friedman, H. S. & Schustack, M. W. (2016). Personality: Classic theories and modern research (6th ed.). MA: Pearson.
Hamachek, D. (1990). Evaluating self-concept and ego status in Erikson’s last three psychosocial stages. Journal of Counseling and Development, (6), 677. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgea&AN=edsgcl.9290121&site=eds-live&scope=site
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