This typical authoritarian-like parenting usually yields easily upset, moody children with poor communication skills. Gein's father was equally ineffective in creating an independent, stable child. His father was permissive and indifferent to him similar to permissive-indifferent style parenting. Gein's father set minimal limits and provided little attention, interest and emotional support. In addition to the other developmental defects, poor social skills were added to Gein's personality as a result of his father's aloofness (Ed Gein Biography). .
According to Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages of life theory, individuals have to pass through eight developmental stages successively to function adequately as an adult. There are four stages that occur in childhood (Cook, Joan). Gein's disruption may suggest that his conflicts began in the second stage, early childhood. This stage experienced by children within the ages of 1-3 years is also called the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage (Cook, Joan). In this particular phase the child learn to exercise will, make choices, and utilize self-control. If these techniques are not learned children usually become uncertain and doubt that they can do things by themselves (Cook, Joan). Ed Gein's indecisiveness and dependence followed him throughout his life and played a key role in the onset of his madness and deranged behavior (Ed Gein). Several times Gein attempted to move away from the place wherein he spent his entire life but he was afraid to make any real steps toward the change. Gein had no connecting thoughts to independent feelings or effective problem-solving skills. He simply stayed put and did minimal measures to avoid his grief and oncoming delirium. Such measures were boarding up and sealing off every room in his 2-story farmhouse with the exception of his bedroom and the kitchen downstairs. He made it a point to keep his mothers room untouched just as the way it was before her death (Ed Gein Biography).