fei75766_ch07_206-241.indd 239  02/06/20 11:52 AM
Chapter 7    Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory239
•Each basic strength hasanunderlying antipathy thatbecomes thecore 
pathology ofthatstage.
•Thefirststage ofdevelopment isinfancy, characterized bytheoral-sensory 
mode, thepsychosocial crisis ofbasic trust versus mistrust, thebasic strength 
ofhope, andthecorepathology ofwithdrawal.
•During early childhood, children experience theanal, urethral, and muscular 
psychosexual mode; thepsychosocial conflict ofautonomy versus shame and 
doubt; thebasic strength ofwill;andthecorepathology ofcompulsion.
•During theplay age, children experience genital-locomotor psychosexual 
development andundergo apsychosocial crisis ofinitiative versus guilt, with
either thebasic strength ofpurpose orthecorepathology ofinhibition .
•School-age children areinaperiod ofsexual latency butfacethe
psychosocial crisis ofindustry versus inferiority, which produces either the
basic strength ofcompetence orthecorepathology ofinertia.
•Adolescence, orpuberty, isacrucial stage because aperson’s sense ofidentity 
should emerge from thisperiod. However, identity confusion maydominate 
thepsychosocial crisis, thereby postponing identity. Fidelity isthebasic 
strength ofadolescence; role repudiation isitscorepathology.
•Young adulthood, thetimefrom about age18to30,ischaracterized bythe
psychosexual mode ofgenitality, thepsychosocial crisis ofintimacy versus 
isolation, thebasic strength oflove,andthecorepathology ofexclusivity.
•Adulthood isatimewhen people experience thepsychosexual mode of
procreativity, thepsychosocial crisis ofgenerativity versus stagnation, the
basic strength ofcare, andthecorepathology ofrejectivity.
•Old age ismarked bythepsychosexual mode ofgeneralized sensuality, the
crisis ofintegrity versus despair, andthebasic strength ofwisdom orthecore
pathology ofdisdain.
•Erikson usedpsychohistory (acombination ofpsychoanalysis andhistory) to
study theidentity crises ofMartin Luther, Mahatma Gandhi, andothers.
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