Question

Which is the fourth stages of psychosocial development of an individual according to Erikson ?

• A. Intimacy v/s Isolation
• B. Identity v/s Role Confusion
• C. Industry v/s Inferiority
• D. Generativity v/s Stagnation

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Industry v/s Inferiority

Erik Erikson

• Erik Erikson was a German- American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst well-known for his psychosocial development theory.
• He expanded upon Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development and emphasized the importance of social and cultural factors in human development. 
• According to Erikson's theory, individuals go through eight stages of psycho-social development across their lifespan, each characterized by a unique developmental task or crisis. These stages encompass the entire lifespan, from infancy to old age. The stages are as follows:

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): The first stage occurs in infancy, and the main developmental task is developing a sense of trust in the world and others. 
2. Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood): This stage occurs during early childhood, and the central focus is developing a sense of independence and autonomy while exploring the environment. 
3. Initiative vs Guilt (Preschool Age): The third stage occurs during the preschool years, and the key task is developing a sense of purpose and taking the initiative in one's activities.
4. Industry vs Inferiority (School Age): 
   • By this time the child will be in school and its age ranges between 6 and 12 years. 
   • The school will be a completely new environment.
   • The teachers and the school environment create pressure on him to work hard, and at the same time, his parents will also put pressure due to their high expectations. 
   • The school environment will present a variety of competitors from his peer group. • The child perceives and performs new challenges or crises and solves them, at its best level, then he/she will be admired, and this will boost their energy, and as a result, they will become industrious. 
   • They work hard to achieve more in terms of competency and productivity. 
   • But contrary to this, if the child fails to positively solve the crisis, he/she assesses himself as 'helpless' or 'hopeless' and develops a sense of inferiority. 
   • The school is the correct forum to develop either industriousness or inferiority feeling among the students.
5. Identity vs Role Confusion (Adolescence): The fifth stage occurs during adolescence, and the central focus is forming a coherent sense of self-identity and establishing personal values and beliefs. 
6. Intimacy vs Isolation (Early O Adulthood): This stage occurs in early adulthood, and the main developmental task is establishing intimate and meaningful relationships with others. 
7. Generativity vs Stagnation (Middle Adulthood): The seventh stage occurs in middle adulthood, and the primary task is to contribute to society and the next generation through work, parenting, mentoring, or other forms of productivity. 
8. Integrity vs Despair (Late Adulthood): The final stage takes place in late adulthood, and the central focus is on reflecting on one's life and accepting the inevitability of death with a sense of integrity and fulfilment.