Memorization Technique for Erik Erikson's 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development

Overview

• Today's lecture covers a memorization technique (AOTA) for Erik Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development.
• The stages are:
  1. Trust vs. Mistrust
  2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
  3. Initiative vs. Guilt
  4. Industry vs. Inferiority
  5. Identity vs. Role Confusion
  6. Intimacy vs. Isolation
  7. Generativity vs. Stagnation
  8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Memorization Technique: AOTA

• AOTA helps remember stages, focusing on initiating stages with "I"
• AO T:
  • T stands for Trust (Stage 1)
  • A stands for Autonomy (Stage 2)
• From Stage 3 onwards use the phrase "T initiate" for stages starting with 'I':
  • Stage 3: T Initiate
  • Stage 4: T Initiate Industry (I for Industry)
  • Stage 5: T Initiate Industry Identify (I for Identity)
  • Stage 6: T Initiate Industry Identify Intimacy
  • Stage 7: G (for Generativity)
  • Stage 8: E (for Ego Integrity)

Practice Questions

1. Fourth Stage:

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 4th stage?
   • Answer: Industry vs. Inferiority
   • Verification: T Initiate Industry (Fourth finger)

2. Third Stage:

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 3rd stage?
   • Answer: Initiative vs. Guilt
   • Verification: T Initiate (Third finger)

3. Sixth Stage:

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 6th stage?
   • Answer: Intimacy vs. Isolation
   • Verification: T Initiate Industry Identify Intimacy (Sixth finger)

4. Fifth Stage:

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 5th stage?
   • Answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion
   • Verification: T Initiate Industry Identify (Fifth finger)

5. Fourth Stage (Repeated):

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 4th stage?
   • Answer: Industry vs. Inferiority
   • Verification: T Initiate Industry (Fourth finger)

6. Seventh Stage:

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 7th stage?
   • Answer: Generativity vs. Stagnation
   • Verification: G (Seventh finger)

7. Sixth Stage (Repeated):

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 6th stage?
   • Answer: Intimacy vs. Isolation
   • Verification: T Initiate Industry Identify Intimacy (Sixth finger)

8. Eighth Stage:

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 8th stage?
   • Answer: Ego Integrity vs. Despair
   • Verification: E (Eighth finger)

9. Third Stage (Repeated):

   • Question: What is Erikson’s 3rd stage?
   • Answer: Initiative vs. Guilt
   • Verification: T Initiate (Third finger)

10. Fifth Stage (Repeated):

    • Question: What is Erikson’s 5th stage?
    • Answer: Identity vs. Role Confusion
    • Verification: T Initiate Industry Identify (Fifth finger)

Memorization Recap

• Breakdown using hands and stage order:
  • 1st: T (Trust)
  • 2nd: A (Autonomy)
  • 3rd: Initiate (Initiative)
  • 4th: Industry
  • 5th: Identify (Identity)
  • 6th: Intimacy
  • 7th: G (Generativity)
  • 8th: E (Ego Integrity)

Bonus Question

• Scenario: Social worker meets a couple hesitant to let their child dress themselves.
  • Question: What stage is this?
  • Answer: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
  • Explanation: Encouraging self-sufficiency in toddlers (Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt).

Final Notes

• Practice consistently: 2 questions per day, one full practice exam per month.
• Join the Facebook group for more resources (link provided in the description).
• Message: You got this! Practice makes perfect.