Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Erikson’ developmental model is a series of psychosocial crises which individuals must successfully resolve as they mature.

Of prime importance in resolving these conflicts are the adults who care for children and the interactions in which they are involved.

Maturation occurs as each individual progresses from one stage to the next.

Stage	Approximate Age	Crisis
Infancy	birth - 18 months	Trust vs. mistrust

Stage	Approximate Age	Crisis
Early childhood	10 mo. - 3 years	Autonomy Vs doubt

Child is becoming an independent self, play is important as a means for developing autonomy, learning about other children and adults, rules and laws are important as social order. They like stories about parents and children.

Tales of Peter Rabbit,
Ira sleeps over,
Bambi,
Alice in Wonderland,
First Grade Jitters,

Stage	Approximate Age	Crisis
Middle childhood	3-6 years	Initiative Vs guilt

Children are increasingly able to care for themselves and their possessions. Develop the ability to realize that others may be in opposition to their behavior. Guilt may result in resolution of the conflict. Play can be categorized in two general forms: solitary / dreaming and interaction with others in the form of enacting life. This enables them to think about their future as well as their present roles. Literature where characters experience conflict with others and their actions and motivations are communicated.

Goggles; Ezra Keat,
A Room of My Own,
Alexander and the Terrible No Good Very Bad Day,
Baby Sister for Francis,
Nobody Asked Me If I Wanted a Baby Sister.
Charlotte’s Web,
Did You Carry the Flag Today Charley?, Rebecca Caudill

Stage	Approximate Age	Crisis
Late childhood	7-11 years	Industry Vs inferiority

Children at this age are determined to master tasks. Learn to work together with others for a common goal. Are constantly engaged in activities that allow them to practice. Their being able to do results in industry else inferiority. How-to books and books about others trying to be better or as good as their peers are common at this age group. Another subject recently written about is children at this age and their interaction with their parents.

Harriet the Spy,
Ramona and Her Father,
Friday Night Is Papa Night
Summer of the swans'
Wrinkle in Time,
James and the Giant Peach,
Summer of the Swans,
Evens' Corner,
Where Lilies Bloom,
Prairie Song,
The Boxcar Children,
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankenweiler,

Stage	Approximate Age	Crisis
Adolescents	12-20 years	Identity Vs role diffusion

Search for identity is linked to becoming a person with identity: identity linked to a cultural, personalities, and a community (families, groups, sports, gangs...)

The Great Gilly Hopkins.Katherine Paterson (1978)
The Red Badge of Courage,
Little house books,
Beverly Cleary books
Judy Bloom books
A Wrinkle in Time,
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,
The Witch of Blackbird Pond,
Story of my life, Helen Keller
I'm Nobody Who Are You,