Erik Erikson Essay Research Paper Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson Essay, Research Paper

Erik Erikson was born on June 15, 1902 in Frankfurt, Germany. His parents had

separated from each other before he was born and his female parent wedded a Judaic physician.

They raised Erik under the last name of Homburger, which belonged to his Judaic

stepfather. ( Martin ) His equals beheld him as Jewish, but his Judaic temple did non accept

him because of his visual aspect. Consequently, during his young person, Erikson had many

battles with individuality. ( Boeree )

Erikson? s household really much wanted him to analyze scientific discipline. Erikson did non make good

in school and did non go on on to university. Alternatively of prosecuting the scientific discipline grade, he

went to art school and enjoyed eight old ages of going Europe as a mobile creative person.

( Martin )

After Erikson had graduated from art school, he began to learn at a private school

in Vienna. He attended the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. He besides taught in a little

private school and educated himself as a Montessori instructor. Erikson studied

depth psychology with Anna Freud, the youngest of Sigmund and Martha Freud & # 8217 ; s six

kids. ( Astor ) He married a adult female whose name was Joan M. Serson and had two

boies with her. ( Boeree )

In the early 1930? s, Erikson moved his household to the United States. He became a

US citizen in 1939 and changed his last name from Homburger to Erikson. ( Martin )

Erikson worked at Harvard Medical School, Yale University, and several private

assignments in their clinics for disturbed kids. At Harvard he taught a class on the

life rhythm that became really popular, particularly during the wild 60? s. ( Martin )

In the twelvemonth 1950, Erikson published a really influential book titled, Childhood and

Society. This book included Erikson? s celebrated Eight Stages of Psychosocial

Development. ( Martin )

In 1951, Erikson began to work at a private mental infirmary called the

Austen-Riggs Clinic, located in Stockbridge, MA. He besides served as a adviser at the

University of Pittsburgh? s Western Psychiatric Institute. He continued to work at Harvard

until he retired in 1970. ( Martin )

After retirement, the Erikson? s moved to the Bay Area of California, and

continued to work at developing another coevals of child workers at the Mt. Zion infirmary

in San Francisco. He led many seminars on his Eight Stages and other psychological

subjects. ( Boeree )

The Erikson? s relocated to Massachusetts in the early 1990? s and Erik died in

1994. ( Martin ) The Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erikson developed eight phases of Psychosocial Development. These phases were

built off of Sigmund Freud? s psychosexual theory of development. ( Bukatko 20-23 )

Erikson? s first phase is called the Basic Trust V. Basic Mistrust. This is the phase

of the 1st twelvemonth ( babyhood ) when the babe is wholly dependent on its health professional for nutrient,

heat and love. Babies need to happen changeless stableness in the behaviour of their health professionals

in order to get a sense of trust in the universe. If the health professional does non be given to the

baby? s demands, so the baby will non hold trust and feel that the universe is non a safe topographic point.

This is besides what Freud called the? Oral Stage? . This means that the libidinal energy is

focused on the oral cavity for masticating suction and feeding. ( Bukatko 20-23 )

The 2nd phase is called Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. This phase occurs

between 1 and 3 old ages

of age. This is when the kid begins to research things and do

picks. ( Bukatko 23 ) The energies of the kid are directed at developing physical accomplishment.

This was based on Freud? s? Anal Phase, ? when the kid is larning toilet preparation and

get the hanging rectal sphincter control. The end in this phase is to assist the kid understand

what is socially acceptable without holding the kid lose his sense of will. At this phase the

kid feels that the universe revolves wholly around him and he is really ego centric.

( Morrison 214-215 )

The 3rd phase is called Initiative V. Guilt. This phase happens between the ages

of 3 and 6. This is the first clip the kid begins to put ends. ( Morrison 214-215 ) The

kid wants to accomplish an apprehension for life. Children need to show their

newfound independency but besides need to hold direction on what is socially right and

incorrect. If they are shamed about ordaining this independency they will develop feelings of

guilt. During this phase, the kid begins to take other people? s feelings into consideration

and is non so ego-centric. ( Bukatko 23 )

Industry vs. Inferiority is the name of the 4th phase. The age that this phase

occurs is about 6 old ages old, and it continues all the manner to puberty. The kid starts to

perform? work? in the signifier of school and develops an thought of accomplishments in their civilization. If the

kid does good in this phase, they will experience capable of holding accomplishments throughout life. If the

kid fails, so the consequence is feelings of failing and insufficiency. ( Martin )

Phase five is called Identity V. Identity confusion. It is besides known as the

? Latency Period. ? It starts at pubescence and continues to immature maturity. At adolescence,

the adolescent begins to convey together life experiences and makes determinations on who they

privation to go. The adolescent may seek out many different functions in this phase, merely to see

which one fits them. ( Martin )

Intimacy V. Isolation is what we call stage six. This phase is experienced in immature

maturity. Hopefully by this phase, the immature grownup has achieved a sense of individuality and

wants to find his or her map or function in society. Self soaking up should hold

disintegrated by this clip, and the single can now portion his or herself with person

else in relationships. ( Bukatko 23 ) If they can non organize positive relationships, and have non

resolved the issue of self soaking up, the person may go alone and experience that they

can non love.

Phase seven is called Generativty vs. Stagnation. This phase occurs in center

maturity when the person should go productive. This is the clip where the

person can care for the following coevals, and normally has their ain kids to raise and

attention for. If the person is non productive, they develop a sense of ennui and

depression. ( Bukatko 23 )

Old age is when the last phase transpires. This phase is named Integrity V.

Despair. This is when the aged individual reexamines his or her life and measures its

importance. Feelingss of wisdom are normally attained by this phase. If life has non seemed

to run into ends and outlooks, the person may experience hopelessness and dispair. ( Martin )

Erikson? s work has been really influential in regard to the psychological science field. It

serves to assist Psychologists, kid health professionals, and merely about every person in

understanding the life processes.