Erikson’s Model of Psychosocial Development with Autistic Children and Connections to Effective Educational Practices for No Child Left Behind

Autism is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate and socialize. Social difficulties of autism involve interpreting human emotions and reciprocity skills that are necessary for communication. To better understand why social development for autistic children is critical, it is beneficial to look at Erik Erikson’s model of psychosocial development. Erikson’s model explains the importance of peer relationships in order for the adolescent to find his/her identity. Autistic children struggle with peer relationships due to the social difficulties of the disorder. If autistic adolescents are not taught the social skills that are necessary for an autonomous life, they may experience role confusion which leads to isolation in the future. Additionally, Autistic children who are included in the regular classroom may be held to the standards of No Child Left Behind. In order to help autistic adolescents be successful, evidence-based practices and “best practices” for social development are recommended