Making a Difference
Erik Erikson
by: Alexa Raniuk
Monday, May 11, 2009
outline
Outline
I. Introduction
a. Definition of psychology
b. Making a Difference
II. Early Life of Erik Erikson
a. Childhood
b. Life/background
III. Erikson vs. Freud
a. Sense of identity and sexual drive
IV. Psychology meets history
V. Tribal Studies
VI. Theories on development and the ego
a. the role of the unconscious in history
b. Identity crisis
c. Virtues
*hope
*will
*confidence
*purpose
*competence
*fidelity
*love
*caring
*wisdom
VII. 8 stages
VIII. Conclusion
I. Introduction
a. Definition of psychology
b. Making a Difference
II. Early Life of Erik Erikson
a. Childhood
b. Life/background
III. Erikson vs. Freud
a. Sense of identity and sexual drive
IV. Psychology meets history
V. Tribal Studies
VI. Theories on development and the ego
a. the role of the unconscious in history
b. Identity crisis
c. Virtues
*hope
*will
*confidence
*purpose
*competence
*fidelity
*love
*caring
*wisdom
VII. 8 stages
VIII. Conclusion
Essay- How Erik Erikson Made a Difference
Very often in history, people are looking for answers. Answers as to why people did the things that they did. Most of the time we are left with no answers, and only assumptions. Psychology comes into play when dealing with history because it is the study of people. The science of the mind, and of mental states of progress. The sum of characteristics, the study of behavior. With these studies, some questions are answered. It gives is a structure to go by and opens up doors for those seeking questions. Erik Erikson is a famous psychologist who is also one of the greatest contributors to this field of science. Many find this man to have made a huge difference. His difference was not a direct one by any means. He did not go and fight a great battle, lead people to freedom, or feed the hungry. His contribution was his answers. His behind the scene detective work is used in understanding other people. This is the most important thing there is when it comes to looking at history because it is so easy to read the text and not have any association, especially positive in most cases. Erik Erikson created a key that is essential in unlocking the minds of human beings.
He was born on June 15, 1902 in Frankfurt, Germany. His father was Danish and abandoned his mother before he was born. His mother, who was Jewish, soon after married a doctor. Early life was a challenge because he was caught in the middle. His extreme interest in identity later in his research was fueled by his childhood. He was teased at his temple for being tall, blonde, and blue-eyed. While at school he was rejected because he had a Jewish background. In school Erik studied art and a variety of languages. He hated the structure of school, so in stead of going on to college, he decided to journey through Europe while taking notes and recording his experiences. After a year, he returned to Germany and enrolled in art school. After schooling, he became an art teacher. He taught American children who came to Vienna to study Sigmund Freud. After taking courses at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute, in 1933 he came to Boston where he taught at Harvard University and was the first child analyst. This began his research and studies of troubled American soldiers and WWII, identity crisis, rapid social changes in America, generation gap, racial tensions, and the dangers of nuclear war.
With the topic of psychology, Sigmund Freud is the first to come to mind for many people. However, Erik Erikson contributed just as much into the field of psychology. While Freud’s theory focuses on the psychosexual aspects of development, Erikson helped to expand and broaden psychoanalytic theory. Erikson also contributed more towards personality and how that affects things. Erikson focused his stages on the development and emergence of a sense of identity.
Erik Erikson made a difference by exploring the role of the unconscious in human history. Psychohistory is the psychology of people in history. It answers why and studies historical motivation, or it is considered the application of the science of psychology in history. We use psychohistory to explain individual and group behavior. Erik Erikson is most famous for originating the phrase “Identity Crisis”. While Erikson was in Vienna, he met a young girl named Anna Freud. She was the daughter of Sigmund Freud and together they combined theories and studied psychology. Hitler had just come to power when he immigrated to the U.S. and worked at some prestigious universities and hospitals including Harvard and Yale. While he was teaching at Yale, he conducted numerous studies on tribal Indians including the Sioux and Yurok.
Looking at Eriksons Psychological studies, he postulated 8 stages of development. These stages are from birth to death. Erikson believed that every human being goes through these 8 stages to reach his or her full development. He also was one of the originators of Ego psychology, which emphasized the role of the ego being more than a servant to the id. As his neo-Freudian method developed, he claimed that each of the stages was marked by a conflict, and then a resolution will occur in the outcome. He claimed that favorable outcomes were known as “virtues”. These virtues include, hope, will, purpose, competence, fidelity, love, caring and wisdom.
In the 8 stages of development by Erik Erikson, the first stage is the oral-sensory stage (birth- 1 year). This is where feeding and trust are the primary concerns. The second stage is the muscular-anal stage. This is a child 1-2 years old. The main concern is toilet training, but this also brings about self confidence and the main conflict is autonomy vs. doubt. In stage 3, the locomotor stage which happens age 2-6, the child learns a greater form of independence and the concern is initiative and guilt. Stage 4 is the latency stage, ages 6-12. The important event here is school and the concern of the child is industry vs. inferiority. Stage 5 is adolescence, age 12-18 and the main concern is peer relationships. This is where identity and role confusion mainly takes place. Stage 6 is young adult hood which is 19-40 years old. The main goal in this stage is love relationships. The fear in this stage deals with intimacy versus isolation. Stage 7 is middle adulthood, ages 40-65. This is the stage where parenting is the main event going on in a person’s life. The conflict in this stage deals with generativity and stagnation, which is also where the term “midlife crisis” comes into play. Stage 8 is maturity during late adulthood ages 65 and older. This is the time when a person is reflecting on and accepting their life as they have already lived it. They are met with integrity versus despair.
Incorporating those 8 stages, and all of Eriksson’s research, it makes looking at history much clearer, and answers easier to understand. Erik Erikson made a difference in history by allowing others to view history a different way. His work goes much unnoticed and few know of the man behind the scenes. His impact on the world his often hidden or blocked by the subjects of which he studied.
He was born on June 15, 1902 in Frankfurt, Germany. His father was Danish and abandoned his mother before he was born. His mother, who was Jewish, soon after married a doctor. Early life was a challenge because he was caught in the middle. His extreme interest in identity later in his research was fueled by his childhood. He was teased at his temple for being tall, blonde, and blue-eyed. While at school he was rejected because he had a Jewish background. In school Erik studied art and a variety of languages. He hated the structure of school, so in stead of going on to college, he decided to journey through Europe while taking notes and recording his experiences. After a year, he returned to Germany and enrolled in art school. After schooling, he became an art teacher. He taught American children who came to Vienna to study Sigmund Freud. After taking courses at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute, in 1933 he came to Boston where he taught at Harvard University and was the first child analyst. This began his research and studies of troubled American soldiers and WWII, identity crisis, rapid social changes in America, generation gap, racial tensions, and the dangers of nuclear war.
With the topic of psychology, Sigmund Freud is the first to come to mind for many people. However, Erik Erikson contributed just as much into the field of psychology. While Freud’s theory focuses on the psychosexual aspects of development, Erikson helped to expand and broaden psychoanalytic theory. Erikson also contributed more towards personality and how that affects things. Erikson focused his stages on the development and emergence of a sense of identity.
Erik Erikson made a difference by exploring the role of the unconscious in human history. Psychohistory is the psychology of people in history. It answers why and studies historical motivation, or it is considered the application of the science of psychology in history. We use psychohistory to explain individual and group behavior. Erik Erikson is most famous for originating the phrase “Identity Crisis”. While Erikson was in Vienna, he met a young girl named Anna Freud. She was the daughter of Sigmund Freud and together they combined theories and studied psychology. Hitler had just come to power when he immigrated to the U.S. and worked at some prestigious universities and hospitals including Harvard and Yale. While he was teaching at Yale, he conducted numerous studies on tribal Indians including the Sioux and Yurok.
Looking at Eriksons Psychological studies, he postulated 8 stages of development. These stages are from birth to death. Erikson believed that every human being goes through these 8 stages to reach his or her full development. He also was one of the originators of Ego psychology, which emphasized the role of the ego being more than a servant to the id. As his neo-Freudian method developed, he claimed that each of the stages was marked by a conflict, and then a resolution will occur in the outcome. He claimed that favorable outcomes were known as “virtues”. These virtues include, hope, will, purpose, competence, fidelity, love, caring and wisdom.
In the 8 stages of development by Erik Erikson, the first stage is the oral-sensory stage (birth- 1 year). This is where feeding and trust are the primary concerns. The second stage is the muscular-anal stage. This is a child 1-2 years old. The main concern is toilet training, but this also brings about self confidence and the main conflict is autonomy vs. doubt. In stage 3, the locomotor stage which happens age 2-6, the child learns a greater form of independence and the concern is initiative and guilt. Stage 4 is the latency stage, ages 6-12. The important event here is school and the concern of the child is industry vs. inferiority. Stage 5 is adolescence, age 12-18 and the main concern is peer relationships. This is where identity and role confusion mainly takes place. Stage 6 is young adult hood which is 19-40 years old. The main goal in this stage is love relationships. The fear in this stage deals with intimacy versus isolation. Stage 7 is middle adulthood, ages 40-65. This is the stage where parenting is the main event going on in a person’s life. The conflict in this stage deals with generativity and stagnation, which is also where the term “midlife crisis” comes into play. Stage 8 is maturity during late adulthood ages 65 and older. This is the time when a person is reflecting on and accepting their life as they have already lived it. They are met with integrity versus despair.
Incorporating those 8 stages, and all of Eriksson’s research, it makes looking at history much clearer, and answers easier to understand. Erik Erikson made a difference in history by allowing others to view history a different way. His work goes much unnoticed and few know of the man behind the scenes. His impact on the world his often hidden or blocked by the subjects of which he studied.
Bibliography
Shakey, Wendy. "Erik Erikson." History of Psychology Archives. May 1997. 1 May 2009
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/erikson.htm.
Van Wagner, Kendra. "Erik Erikson's Biography." about.com:psychology. May 1997. 22 Apr 2009
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htm.
Sebastian, Eisla. "The Difference Between Erikson and Freud." associated content. 09 Nov 2005. 2 May
2009 http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htm.
Boeree, George. "Erik Erikson." Personality Theories. 2006. 10 Apr 2009
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.html.
Erikson, Erik. Identity and The Life Cycle. W.W. Norton & Co, 1994. Print.
Vygotsky, L.S.. Mind In Society. Havard Univeristy Press, 1978. Print.
Demause, Lloyd . Foundations in Psychohistory. First Edition. Creative Roots Pub, 1982. Print.
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/erikson.htm.
Van Wagner, Kendra. "Erik Erikson's Biography." about.com:psychology. May 1997. 22 Apr 2009
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htm.
Sebastian, Eisla. "The Difference Between Erikson and Freud." associated content. 09 Nov 2005. 2 May
2009 http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htm.
Boeree, George. "Erik Erikson." Personality Theories. 2006. 10 Apr 2009
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/erikson.html.
Erikson, Erik. Identity and The Life Cycle. W.W. Norton & Co, 1994. Print.
Vygotsky, L.S.. Mind In Society. Havard Univeristy Press, 1978. Print.
Demause, Lloyd . Foundations in Psychohistory. First Edition. Creative Roots Pub, 1982. Print.
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