Freud and Erikson Compared
Comparing Theories of Development
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory and Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory are two well-known theories of development. While he was influenced by Freud's ideas, Erikson's theory differed in a number of important ways. Like Freud, Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of predetermined stages. Unlike Freud’s theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson’s theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. Compare and contrast these two theories by looking at the overview of developmental stages provided in the chart below.
| Approximate Ages | Freud's Stages of Psychosexual Development | Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development |
| Birth to 1 year | Oral Stage A child's primary source of pleasure is through the mouth, via sucking, eating and tasting. |
Trust vs Mistrust Children learn to either trust or mistrust their caregivers. |
| 1-3 years | Anal Stage Children gain a sense of mastery and competence by controlling bladder and bowel movements. |
Autonomy vs. Doubt Children develop self-sufficiency by controlling activities such as eating, toilet training and talking. |
| 3-6 years | Phallic Stage The libido's energy is focused on the genitals. Children begin to identify with their same-sex parent. |
Initiative vs. Guilt Children begin to take more control over their environment. |
| 7-11 years | Latent Period The libido's energy is suppressed and children are focused on other activities such as school, friends and hobbies. |
Industry vs Inferiority Children develop a sense of competence by mastering new skills. |
| Adolescence | Genital Stage Children begin to explore romantic relationships. |
Identity vs Role Confusion Children develop a personal identify and sense of self. |
| Adulthood | According to Freud, the genital stage lasts throughout adulthood. He believed the goal is to develop a balance between all areas of life. | Intimacy vs Isolation Young adults seek out romantic love and companionship. Generativity vs Stagnation Middle-aged adults nurture others and contribute to society. Integrity vs Despair Older adults reflect on their lives, looking back with a sense of fulfillment or bitterness. |
