Erik Erikson’s Stages of Personality Development

This paper discusses Erik Erikson's stages of personality development. The first stage, trust vs. mistrust, occurs from birth to 18 months old. During this stage, the infant is learning whether or not he/she can trust the people in their environment for physical and emotional needs such as food, love, security and comfort. This stage is especially important to consider when discussing the role of social media, as it can influence whether children trust that what they see online is true, and determine how much time they choose to spend on various platforms.

The second stage of Erikson's theory, autonomy vs. shame, occurs from 18 months to 3 years old. During this stage, the child is exploring his/her environment and gaining more control over their actions. This can be affected by social media use, as it may limit a child's exploration outside of the home, if they are spending too much time online instead of engaging in activities that build autonomy.

The third stage of Erikson’s theory, initiative vs guilt, occurs from 3 to 6 years old. During this stage, children are beginning to develop skills such as problem solving and planning ahead. Social media use can cause distraction from these activities leading to less opportunity for development within this stage.

The fourth stage of Erikson's theory is industry vs inferiority which occurs from 6 to 12 years old. During this stage, children are learning how to compete and participate in groups. Social media use can be a double edged sword here, as it can give children access to networking opportunities that promote their industry, but also lead to feelings of inferiority if they compare themselves to the people they see online.

The fifth stage of Erikson's theory is identity vs role confusion which occurs from 13-21 years old. During this stage, adolescents are trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into society. Social media can play an important part in this process as it allows teens to connect with others and learn more about different lifestyles or interests they may want to explore. However, if used excessively it can become a distraction from forming their own identity.

The sixth stage is intimacy vs isolation which occurs from 21 to 39 years old. During this stage, individuals are exploring their close relationships and developing a sense of connection. Social media can help people find meaningful connections with others, but if used in excess it can lead to isolation as users get caught up in their online lives instead of forming real life relationships.

Finally, the seventh and last stage is generativity vs stagnation which occurs from 40-65 years old. During this stage, individuals are focused on giving back to society through creating a legacy or developing meaningful relationships. Social media can be used as an effective tool for generating positive change in one's life and the greater community, but if abused it can lead to feelings of disconnection, loneliness and even depression.

Overall, Erik Erikson's stages of personality development highlight the importance of social media use in relation to personal growth. It is essential that individuals carefully consider how much time they spend online in order to ensure their development throughout each stage is not impeded by excessive use.