Erikson’s 8 Stages- 1

Erikson’s 8 Stages of life

PSY 240
February 10, 2012
Erikson’s 8 Stages- 2

"It is human to have a long childhood; it is civilized to have an even longer childhood. Long childhood makes a technical and mental virtuoso out of man, but it also leaves a life-long residue of emotional immaturity in him". This was a quote stated by Erik Homburger Erikson the creator of the 8 stages of life. Erikson believed life is organized into eight different stages that start from they day you are born and continue until the day you die (Harder). Since adult life tends to last longer then childhood or teen years Erikson broke down the stages in experiences naming them young adult, middle aged adults, and older adults
This stage is still in my head as a fuzzy stage since it happened over 20 years ago, but I have seen it in children around me. My best friends son is four years old and he takes karate, and

Erikson’s 8 Stages- 5

he loves to take initiative and pretend like he is a Kung Fu master. He has all kinds of fights with the air, and has a great time doing it. A few weeks ago he went to test out for his next belt in karate and he did not make it. He was so upset! Although, he is only four years old he set a goal for himself to test out and get a new belt and he did not succeed. He was very frustrated with himself, and that is when guilt came into play. He may only be only four years old but he already knows how to take initiative and set goals, and like any adult when he didn’t succeed he was upset.
School Age: 6 to 12 years Industry vs. Inferiority During this stage we are capable of doing so many new things that we have never really been able to accomplish; such as, “learning, creating and accomplishing numerous new skills and knowledge, thus developing a sense of industry. (Harder)” This is a time in life where we do a lot of interacting and experience the feeling of wondering if you fit in with a certain crowd among people of your own age (Harder). This is when the problems arrive of self-esteem issues, and knowledge of knowing the bad from the good. At this point in life your parents are