{"id":299,"date":"2019-01-08T20:43:09","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T20:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-lifespandevelopment\/?post_type=chapter&p=299"},"modified":"2019-03-01T17:08:02","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T17:08:02","slug":"erikson-trust-vs-mistrust","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-lifespandevelopment\/chapter\/erikson-trust-vs-mistrust\/","title":{"raw":"Erikson: Trust vs. Mistrust","rendered":"Erikson: Trust vs. Mistrust"},"content":{"raw":"As previously discussed in chapter 1, Erikson formulated an eight stage theory of psychosocial development. Erikson was in agreement on the importance of a secure base, arguing that the most important goal of infancy was the development of a basic sense of trust in one\u2019s caregivers. Consequently, the first stage, trust vs. mistrust, highlights the importance of attachment. Erikson maintained that the first year to year and a half of life involves the establishment of a sense of trust (Erikson, 1982). Infants are dependent and must rely on others to meet their basic physical needs as well as their needs for stimulation and comfort. A caregiver who consistently meets these needs instills a sense of trust or the belief that the world is a trustworthy place. The caregiver should not worry about overly indulging a child\u2019s need for comfort, contact or stimulation.\r\n\r\nProblems establishing trust<\/strong>: Erikson (1982) believed that mistrust could contaminate all aspects of one\u2019s life and deprive the individual of love and fellowship with others. Consider the implications for establishing trust if a caregiver is unavailable or is upset and ill-prepared to care for a child. Or if a child is born prematurely, is unwanted, or has physical problems that make him or her less desirable to a parent. Under these circumstances, we cannot assume that the parent is going to provide the child with a feeling of trust.","rendered":"

As previously discussed in chapter 1, Erikson formulated an eight stage theory of psychosocial development. Erikson was in agreement on the importance of a secure base, arguing that the most important goal of infancy was the development of a basic sense of trust in one\u2019s caregivers. Consequently, the first stage, trust vs. mistrust, highlights the importance of attachment. Erikson maintained that the first year to year and a half of life involves the establishment of a sense of trust (Erikson, 1982). Infants are dependent and must rely on others to meet their basic physical needs as well as their needs for stimulation and comfort. A caregiver who consistently meets these needs instills a sense of trust or the belief that the world is a trustworthy place. The caregiver should not worry about overly indulging a child\u2019s need for comfort, contact or stimulation.<\/p>\n

Problems establishing trust<\/strong>: Erikson (1982) believed that mistrust could contaminate all aspects of one\u2019s life and deprive the individual of love and fellowship with others. Consider the implications for establishing trust if a caregiver is unavailable or is upset and ill-prepared to care for a child. Or if a child is born prematurely, is unwanted, or has physical problems that make him or her less desirable to a parent. Under these circumstances, we cannot assume that the parent is going to provide the child with a feeling of trust.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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