Erik Erikson's Theory and Life Examples

Erik Erikson organized life into eight stages that extend from birth to death, and it is one of the best-known theories of personality in psychology. He called these stages The Eight Stages of Man. According to Erikson, the resolution of the stage comes through crisis.

You must fulfill one before going on to the other, but it doesn’t always have to be successful. In my opinion, it is not really a matter of failing or succeeding. It’s more on how you will handle situations depending on how you went through each stage, and what you learned while you went through that stage.

You cannot go through different stages at the same time, which is why Erikson set approximative ages for each stage. However, you can definitely change along your path. Your experience may redefine how you will handle certain situations that rely to different stages that you went through in the past. But you are not doomed, and you haven’t failed anything.

Just by showing your interest in improving your relationships means you do have some tools, and you are going in the right direction.

Initiative vs. Guilt

I have a sister who is one year older than me, and when we were child we would get in fights when mom wasn’t around. I think most people who have a sibling or siblings went through similar situations. She used to hit, pinched or pushed me when she was bothered by me. This caused me to get hurt and cry.

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The mom then asked me what has happened, and I would say ‘Nurgul pinched me.’ or ‘She hit me.’. Then my sister would get teary eyes and begins to cry because she knew she has done something wrong. This is an example of how a child feels guilty when they know they have done something wrong.

Identity vs. Identity Confusion

Identity is finding out who you are and what you stand for. I believe people live this every single day. I am going through this stage, knowing that every decision I make reflects me and who I am. I have to say no when I believe something is wrong, and I have to do the right thing when the time comes.

I have been in the position where my friends wanted to do drugs and asked if I wanted to as well. Being raised by strict, but loving parent who taught me to respect myself and taught me right from wrong, I know what I stand for. I know that I do not want to be a person who does drugs. I do not want others to think that I am the type of person who does not respect themselves and does not have bigger goals in life but to ‘party’ or waste my life away. However, I go out occasionally and hang out with my friends. If I were to give into peer pressure, I am no longer making my own decisions, but following everyone else. In order to develop your own identity, you have to make your own decisions. I believe that the actions a person commits, truly reflects their identity – what they believe in, who they are, and their morals.