fei75766_ch07_206-241.indd 215  02/06/20 11:52 AM
Chapter 7    Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory215
characteristic ofeachstage ofdevelopment. However, theepigenetic principle sug-
gests thatalltheother boxes would befilled (asinFigure 7.1),though withother 
items lesscharacteristic oftheirstage ofpsychosocial development. Each iteminthe
ensemble isvitaltopersonality development, andeachisrelated toalltheothers.
Infancy
Thefirstpsychosocial stage isinfancy, aperiod encompassing approximately thefirst
yearoflifeandparalleling Freud’s oralphase ofdevelopment. However, Erikson’s 
model adopts abroader focus thanFreud’s oralstage, which wasconcerned almost 
exclusively withthemouth. ToErikson (1963, 1989), infancy isatimeofincorpora -
tion,withinfants “taking in”notonlythrough theirmouth butthrough theirvarious 
sense organs aswell.Through theireyes, forexample, infants takeinvisual stimuli. 
Astheytakeinfoodandsensory information, infants learn toeither trustormistrust 
theoutside world, asituation thatgives them realistic hope. Infancy, then, ismarked 
bytheoral-sensory psychosexual mode, thepsychosocial crisis ofbasic trust versus 
basic mistrust, andthebasic strength ofhope.
Oral-Sensory Mode
Erikson’s expanded viewofinfancy isexpressed inthetermoral-sensory, aphrase 
thatincludes infants’ principal psychosexual mode ofadapting. Theoral-sensory 
stage ischaracterized bytwomodes ofincorporation—receiving andaccepting what 
isgiven. Infants canreceive evenintheabsence ofother people; thatis,theycan
takeinairthrough thelungs andcanreceive sensory datawithout having tomanipu -
lateothers. Thesecond mode ofincorporation, however, implies asocial context. 
Infants notonlymust get,butalsomust getsomeone elsetogive.Thisearly training in
interpersonal relations helps them learn toeventually become givers. Ingetting other 
people togive,theylearn totrustormistrust other people, thussetting upthebasic 
psychosocial crisis ofinfancy, namely, basic trustversus basic mistrust.
Basic Trust versus Basic Mistrust
Infants’ most significant interpersonal relations arewiththeirprimary caregiver, usu-
allytheirmother. Iftheyrealize thattheirmother willprovide foodregularly, then
theybegin tolearn basic trust; iftheyconsistently hearthepleasant, rhythmic voice of
theirmother, thentheydevelop more basic trust; iftheycanrelyonanexciting visual 
environment, thentheysolidify basic trustevenmore. Inother words, iftheirpat-
ternofaccepting things corresponds withculture’s wayofgiving things, theninfants 
learn basic trust. Incontrast, theylearn basic mistrust iftheyfindnocorrespondence 
between theiroral-sensory needs andtheirenvironment.
Basic trustisusually syntonic, andbasic mistrust isdystonic. Nevertheless, 
infants must develop bothattitudes. Toomuch trustmakes them gullible andvulner -
abletothevagaries oftheworld, whereas toolittletrustleads tofrustration, anger, 
hostility, cynicism, ordepression.
Both trustandmistrust areinevitable experiences ofinfants. Allbabies who
havesurvived havebeen fedandotherwise cared forandtherefore havesome reason 
totrust. Inaddition, allhavebeen frustrated bypain, hunger, ordiscomfort, andthus
haveareason tomistrust. Erikson believed thatsome ratiooftrustandmistrust isFinal PDF to printer