Erik Erikson

docx

School

Keiser University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

123

Subject

Psychology

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by AgentPowerSparrow30

1 Erik Erikson Erik Erikson, Week One Journal Adlih Rodriguez Child Psychology, Keiser University Child Psychology DEP3103GP3-107042022 Professor Dominguez July 11, 2022

2 Erik Erikson Abstract Erik Erikson, a German-born American psychologist, was best known for his theory on psychosocial growth and for leading the idea of an identity crisis (T, 2022). Erikson was born in Frankfurt, Germany, to a Danish mother on June 15th, 1902 (T, 2022). Erikson accused his parents of his "identity confusion" during childhood. Erikson stated that he "did not fit in" with his culture (T, 2022). At the age of 25, Erikson was psychoanalyzed by Anna Freud as he applied for a teaching position at an experimental school for American students (Boeree, 2006). When Erikson became an American citizen, he officially changed his last name to Erikson (Boeree, 2006). During his years at Harvard, he became a research associate at the Psychological Clinic, sparking his interest in working on his graduate degree at Harvard (Erik Erikson n.d). However, Erikson became conflicted with the numerical, pragmatic concentration of Harvard's Psychology Department, which caused him to cease his studies in 1936 without finalizing his degree (Erik Erikson n.d). Erikson is known for his theory that there are eight stages of life, and each is linked to a precise psychological battle, a tussle that influences a significant characteristic of each person's personality (Erikson Institute, 2022). Erikson published three books: Insight and Responsibility (1964); Identity Youth and Crisis (1968); and finally, Gandhi's Truth (1969) winning the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award (Erik Erikson n.d).

3 Erik Erikson Erik Erikson, a German-born American psychologist, was best known for his theory on psychosocial growth and for leading the idea of an identity crisis. He was also a psychoanalyst, professor, and author (T, 2022). Erikson was born in Frankfurt, Germany, to a Danish mother who came from a well- respected Jewish family on June 15th, 1902 (T, 2022). Even though Erikson's mother divorced his father, she did remarry. His stepfather adopted him in 1911; however, they told him that they were his biological parents and when Erikson found out the truth, he stayed upset and bitter for the rest of his life (T, 2022). Erikson accused his parents of his "identity confusion" during childhood. Erikson stated that he "did not fit in" with his culture. Erikson was tall, fair-haired, and had bright blue eyes, which did not fit with his Jewish community (T, 2022). When he was at his temple school, the Jewish children nagged him about his Nordic culture, while in his grammar school, the gentile children teased him about his Jewish heritage. Other than not feeling like he fit in at school, he felt rejected by his stepfather, who he stated loved his biological daughters more than him (T, 2022). Erikson was determined to become an artist after he graduated high school (Boeree, 2006). Sleeping under bridges and visiting museums around Europe became what Erikson did when he was not taking art classes (Boeree, 2006). At the age of 25, Erikson was psychoanalyzed by Anna Freud as he applied for a teaching position at an experimental school for American students (Boeree, 2006). He had three children with Joan Serson, a Canadian teacher at the same experimental school (Boeree, 2006). When the Nazis came to power, Erikson and his family fled Vienna, landing in Copenhagen and Boston. While in Boston, Erikson was presented with a position at the Harvard Medical School while also exercising child psychoanalysis during his own time (Boeree, 2006). During his time at Harvard, he met psychologists like Henry Murray and Kurt Lewin and anthropologists Ruth

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 Erik Erikson Benedict, Gregory Bateson, and Margaret Mead (Boeree, 2006). Erikson taught at Yale and then at Berkeley, which was when he did his prominent studies of modern life among the Yurok and Lakota (Boeree, 2006). When Erikson became an American citizen, it was then when he officially changed his last name to Erikson, a judgment to identify himself as self-made: Erik, son of Erik (Boeree, 2006). During his years at Harvard, he became a research associate at the Psychological Clinic, sparking his interest in working on his graduate degree at Harvard (Erik Erikson n.d). However, Erikson became conflicted with the numerical, pragmatic concentration of Harvard's Psychology Department, which caused him to cease his studies in 1936 without finalizing his degree (Erik Erikson n.d). After suspending his studies, he engaged in the curiosities of human development by performing research at Yale and Berkeley (Erik Erikson n.d). Even though Erikson did not finalize his doctorate, he returned to work at Harvard in 1960 as a Professor of Human Development. He was also a Lecturer in Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. Erikson was asked to become an unofficial member of the Department of Social Relations (Erik Erikson n.d). There Erikson printed three books: Insight and Responsibility, published in 1964; Identity Youth and Crisis, published in 1968; and finally, Gandhi's Truth, published in 1969 (Erik Erikson n.d). His book Gandhi's truth won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award (Erik Erikson n.d). Erikson is known for his theory that each stage of life is linked to a precise psychological battle, a tussle that influences a significant characteristic of each person's personality (Erikson Institute, 2022). Each stage of life was the possible cause of later pathology and health (Erikson Institute, 2022). His theory is one of the most famous theories in psychology (T, 2022). Like Sigmund Freud, Erikson deemed that personality matures progressively in a series of stages (T, 2022). Erikson is considered a Freudian ego-psychologist. Being a Freudian Ego-Psychologist

5 Erik Erikson means that Erikson believes and accepts Freud's ideas as correct, including the more controversial concepts such as the Oedipal complex and the ego. However, he is more socially and culture-oriented than other Freudians, pushing his anthropological interest in instinct and the unconscious out (Boeree, 2006). Unlike Freud's psychosexual theory of human evolution, Erikson believed that humans' personalities continue to advance past the age of five (Erik Erikson n.d). Erikson's eight-stage expansion theory extended Freud's original five-stage theory to incorporate the years of life after early childhood (Erik Erikson n.d). Unlike Freud, Erikson's proposal was more fixated on the social rather than the sexual struggles during each stage (T, 2022). Freud believed that personality is molded mainly by the early childhood experiences someone endures, and Erikson states that character can develop throughout a person's entire lifespan (T, 2022). According to Erikson, humans have eight stages of development, and in each stage, a different psychological problem must be fixed (T, 2022). Erikson's eight stages are: First, Trust vs. Mistrust, which is from zero through one and a half, and the primary virtue is hope. The second is Autonomy vs. Shame, ages one and a half through three, with the primary virtue being will. Third, the basic virtue of Initiative vs. Guilt, ages three through five, is purpose. Fourth, Industry vs. Inferiority, ages five through 12, basic virtue being competency. Fifth, Identity vs. Role Confusion, ages 12 through 18, basic virtue is fidelity. Sixth, Intimacy vs. Isolation, ages 18-40, basic virtue is love. Seventh, Generativity vs. Stagnation, ages 40-65, basic virtue is care. Lastly is Ego Integrity vs. Despair, ages 65 and older, the basic virtue being wisdom (Mcleod, 1970). Each stage has its conflicts and resolutions. During infancy, a child will develop trust or fundamental mistrust. The baby will acquire either trust in their caregiver or will grow to interpret the world as a dangerous place. This depends on if the baby grows up with tender,

6 Erik Erikson encouraging care (Team, 2011). Children can amplify their sense of proficiency and autonomy during early childhood or have an enormous sense of shame. This specific development is deeply connected to toilet training (Team, 2011). During a child's preschool years, they can develop a sense of creativity on their own if they discover their surrounding environment and notice that they can do things independently. However, if that same child feels shame about making their own choices, that child will develop a sense of blame rather than ingenuity (Team, 2011). During school-age, a child will compare themselves to others and create a sense of productiveness and work ethic, or they will feel inadequate (Team, 2011). During adolescence, teens are most likely to experience an identity crisis when they question their role in their current world and future goals. If their parents allow them to explore the world, they can develop their own identities; however, if their parents punish them for self-sufficiency, they will build role confusion (Team, 2011). During early adulthood, individuals will develop solid friendships and healthy intimate relationships. Those who do not do well in this task may become lonely (Team, 2011). During middle age, people can develop a sense of determination, coming from hobbies, their career, or being a parent, and they are more likely to excel during this period. Still, those with no purpose maybe become idle (Team, 2011). Lastly, during old age, people may look back and reminisce on their life tenderly or have a devastating sense of Guilt, desolation, and regret (Team, 2011). Erik Erikson contributed vastly to psychology. His contributors led to our understanding of personality and its development over our lifespan (Cherry, 2020). His examination of children also aided in the growth of further research (Cherry, 2020). Erikson was one of the most quoted psychologists in the 20th century (Cherry, 2020).

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

7 Erik Erikson References Boeree, C. G. (2006). Erik Erikson. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.html Cherry, K. (2020, March 20). How Erik Erikson's own identity crisis shaped his theories . Verywell Mind. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/erik- erikson-biography-1902-1994-2795538 Erik Erikson. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/erik-erikson Erikson Institute. (2022, June 17). Erik Erikson . Erikson Institute. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.erikson.edu/about/history/erik-erikson/ Mcleod, S. (1970, January 1). [Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development] . Erik Erikson's 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html T, T. (2022, February 16). Erik Erikson's contributions to psychology . Practical Psychology. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://practicalpie.com/erik-erikson/ Team, G. T. E. (2011, November 11). Erik Erikson (1902-1994) . Erik Erikson Biography. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/erik- erikson.html

Related Documents

Case Study Analysis.docx

PSY4100_Sines-Ortiz Chelsea_Assessment1-2.docx

Reflection Week 4.docx

Quiz_ Late Adulthood_ COUC502_ Human Growth and Development (D51).pdf

Stress and Coping.docx

Annotated Bibliography.docx

PSY4100_Sines-Ortiz Chelsea_ Assessment 1-4.docx

Religion and spirituality on Black women's mental health.docx

Spiritual and Religious Competencies for Psychologists.docx

PersonalityAssessmentDiscussionQuestions.docx

PSY 211 Module Two Milestone Submit.docx

PACO501ResearchTopic.docx

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780134477961

Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Publisher:PEARSON

Cognitive Psychology

Psychology

ISBN:9781337408271

Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.

Publisher:Cengage Learning,

Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...

Psychology

ISBN:9781337565691

Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780393265156

Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...

Psychology

ISBN:9781285763880

Author:E. Bruce Goldstein

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)

Psychology

ISBN:9781305652958

Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz

Publisher:Cengage Learning

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:PEARSON
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
ISBN:9781337408271
Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.
Publisher:Cengage Learning,
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...
Psychology
ISBN:9781337565691
Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780393265156
Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...
Psychology
ISBN:9781285763880
Author:E. Bruce Goldstein
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)
Psychology
ISBN:9781305652958
Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz
Publisher:Cengage Learning