Did you know that humans are thought to have several "stages of development"? The divisions and names of developmental stages differ from scholar to scholar, but psychologist Erik H. Ericsson (1902-1994), who is well-known in the study of "developmental stages," found that infancy, early childhood, and so on. We propose eight developmental stages: play age, school age, adolescence, young adult, adulthood, and mature age. did. Ericsson's developmental stage theory is a necessary idea to understand and interact with the unique characteristics of children, so it is frequently used in childcare qualification examinations in some countries. If parents with children can understand these developmental stages of human beings, I think that they can be used for child-rearing, so please refer to Ericsson's developmental stage theory introduced here.What is Ericsson's Psychological and Social Development Theory?Erik H. Ericsson is an American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst. He advocates the concept of "identity" and Ericsson's psychosocial development, and is considered one of the most influential psychoanalysts in the United States. Ericsson, however, had a lot of hardships in his life.Ericsson, a German-born Jewish Danish, was discriminated against in Jewish society and Jewish churches because of his North American appearance, and was discriminated against by the German community because he was Jewish. I grew up with heavy discrimination. In addition, he grew up without knowing the origin and whereabouts of his real father, and his origin and growth history have a great influence on the subsequent theory and thought formation.The theory advocated by Ericsson is called "psychosocial development", and human psychology grows through interaction with the people around it.The characteristics of psychosocial development theory are・ Human developmental stages are divided into eight・ Face a “development task” or “psychosocial crisis” at each developmental stage・ Human can acquire "virtue" by overcoming the psychosocial crisis.There are three. Let's take a look at the eight stages in psychosocial development theory in order.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 1. Infancy0 to 1 and a half years old is classified into the stage of "infancy". The psychosocial crisis facing infancy is "trust vs. mistrust."What grows most in infancy is "basic trust." Trust in people is fostered by being loved by others as desired and experiencing a sense of unity with the mother. Babies (0 to 1.5 years old) are, of course, helpless and unable to live alone. By crying and expressing emotions such as wanting milk because you are hungry, wanting you to change diapers because you feel uncomfortable in your ass, and wanting you to hold me because you are lonely, by satisfying those desires, "I'm sure someone will help you. You can get "hope". On the other hand, if no one can fulfill your wishes, you will develop a feeling of distrust that "no one will help you", a feeling of helplessness toward you, and a feeling of self-impairment.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 2. Early childhoodApproximately one and a half to three years old are classified into the "early childhood" stage. The psychosocial crisis facing early childhood is "autonomy vs. shame".What grows most in early childhood is "autonomy (the ability to control impulses and control oneself)". Confidence is cultivated by proactively giving opportunities to take on challenges and accumulating "made" experiences.Early childhood is the time when the first discipline, such as eating and toilet training, begins. Parents can actively give them the opportunity to take on challenges, and sometimes help them at the right time to gain the "will" to "try more things." On the other hand, if parents do everything so that their children do not fail, the autonomy of "try it yourself" will not grow. Also, if you keep scolding your child every time he fails, he will be embarrassed.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 3. Playing age3 to 5 years old are classified into a stage called "playing age". The psychosocial crisis faced during the play period is "initiative vs. guilt.""Spontaneity and positivity" grows most during the play period. By teaching you how to behave in a timely and case-by-case manner, you will be able to make sense of what you are doing. During the play period, he confirms his physical strength, intellect, and ability by repeating challenges with curiosity. You can get a "purpose" by disciplining children's challenges and respecting their spontaneity while disciplining them so that they do not do whatever they want in public places. On the other hand, if you pay too much attention to all the challenges of your child, such as "no good" or "quiet", you will be guilty of "doing what you want to do is bad" and "wanting to know is bad". You will feel guilty.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 4. School ageAges 5-12 are categorized as "school age". The psychosocial crisis facing school age is "industry vs. inferiority"."Diligence" is what grows most in school age. You will be able to improve your "competency" by voluntarily and habitually engaging in socially expected activities (such as homework given by elementary school). School age coincides with the time of attending elementary school. You can have sound pride and confidence if you feel respect for your friends who are better than you and if you think you are better in the group activities and interactions with your friends in the school. On the other hand, if parents compare their children with their friends and inferiority complex or superiority complex, they will become aware of their superiority and inferiority complex. Let's do it.Ericsson's Developmental Stairs 5. AdolescenceAges 12-18 are categorized as "adolescence". The psychosocial crisis facing adolescence is "identity vs. identity confusion."What grows most in adolescence is "objective self-awareness." You will be able to see yourself objectively, think about who you are, and know the difference between your essence and others. Adolescents, who are adolescents, behave as they want to, and while being recognized by others, they become aware of "what kind of person they are" and gain "loyalty". Loyalty is about believing in the values ​​you choose and trying to contribute to them.In order to establish an identity, various challenges are required to select one's own potential. Therefore, it is believed that the fifth stage of Ericsson's developmental stage theory, "adolescence," allows for a "moratorium" as a grace period before segregating identities.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 6. Early adulthoodAges 18-40 are categorized as "young adults". The social crisis facing early adulthood is “intimacy vs. isolation”.What grows most in early adulthood is "intimacy" (in Ericsson's definition, a relationship where you bet yourself on the other person and you don't lose yourself). You will be able to establish intimate relationships with others. In early adulthood, you will be able to gain "love" by maintaining a stable and trustworthy relationship with your friends, lovers, spouse, etc. for a long time. However, if you are not able to establish yourself in adolescence, you will be lonely because you will not be able to actively engage with others because you will be dominated by the fear of losing yourself.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 7. Middle ageAges 40-65 are categorized as "adulthood". The social crisis facing the middle ages is "generativity vs. stagnation"."Next-generation upbringing ability" is what grows most in the middle ages. Next-generation development ability is a coined word of Ericsson, which means to inherit the culture of the previous generation, add new creations on your own behalf, and pass it on to the next generation. During the middle ages, you will be able to acquire the ability of "care" by passing on what you have learned from the upper generation to the lower generation such as children. Especially in the latter half of the middle age, it is said that it is very important for mental health to be involved in the next generation as a babysitter of grandchildren.However, if you do not have a connection between generations, or if you think only about your own generation and era, you will fall into a situation called "stagnation." If you do not have a way of life that is aware of what you will leave for the next generation, you will not be able to find the meaning of your existence in the final "old age" in Ericsson's developmental stage theory.Ericsson's Developmental Stage 8. Old agePeople aged 65 and over are categorized as "mature age". The social crisis facing old age is "ego integrity vs. despair."Old age is the time to discover the meaning of one's life in the flow of history as big as the universe, the earth, and human beings. If you have cleared the developmental tasks up to the middle ages, you will be able to gain "wisdom and wisdom (will)".However, if there is nothing inherited from the previous generation or something that can be left to the next generation, you will not be able to position yourself in the connection between generations, you will not be able to confirm the meaning of your existence, and you will fall into despair...How was it? As I have explained so far, Ericsson's developmental stage theory can be used not only for child-rearing, but also for parents to look back on themselves and provide guidelines for life for all generations.