Erik Erikson

Erik EriksonBy: Catherine RamosIntroErik Erikson (Born June 15th, 1902) was a German-born developmental psychologist, and a psychoanalyst.He is most famous for his theory on social development in human beings.He also created the term identity crisis.Erik Erikson died on May 12th, 1994 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

TheoryEriksons theory of personality outlined eight stages of conflict throughout a persons life.It was also called the Eight Stages of Development.Favorable outcomes are known as virtues.Must know both sides of conflict, or you dont have a positive outcome through that stage.For example, in trust vs. mistrust you must know both extremes or you will end up trusting everyone (negative) or not being able to trust anyone (negative).

Theory (cont.)Like Freud, Erik Erikson believed in the importance of early childhood. However, Erikson believed that personality development happens over the entire course of a persons life. In the early 1960s, Erikson proposed a theory that describes eight distinct stages of development. According to Erikson, in each stage people face new challenges, and the stages outcome depends on how people handle these challenges. Erikson named the stages according to these possible outcomes.Stage 1 HopeInfant stageSocial environment caring, stable or erratic and threatening.Basic Trust vs. Mistrust - Does the child believe its caregivers to be reliable? Does he environment foster hope or mistrust?Child becomes trusting, hopeful in life or frightened, insecure and mistrustful.Stage 2 WillToddler stagechild supported and encouraged or, either unknowingly neglected or through malevolent intent shamed and punishedAutonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Does the child believe him/herself to be intrinsically worthy, good or intrinsically badIf the parents allow this the child will grow with the interests, likewise if the parents are restrictive the child will not blossom with their interests.

Stage 3 PurposeKindergartenChild taught to do things for self and praised or child is not taught or criticized for failuresInitiative vs. Guilt- Does child believe in own ability to plan and act or does he/she feel it is wrong to function independently?Child learns a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, develops guilt about functioning independently.Stage 4 Competenceage 6 to puberty. As child enters larger social environment, compares self worth to others (such as in a classroom).Industry vs. Inferiority - begins to recognize major disparities in personal abilities relative to other children and judges self through attitudes of significant others, i.e., teachersChild develops self-worth and learns competency in concrete world or develops sense of inferiority in relation to others.Stage 5 FidelityTeenagerQuestioning of self: encouraged to explore and create self-identity or pushed to conformFidelity Identity vs. Role Confusion Erikson stated that this was the most important stage, as it is the transition from childhood to adulthood. People develop their own sense of individuality. This is also where he used the term Identity Crisis because he stated, Throughout infancy and childhood, a person forms many identifications. But the need for identity in youth is not met by these. This is the pivotal stage in someone's life, because here you either discover what your role is or you remain confused and become a non-productive person.Teenager either develops an identity of his/her own, or becomes confused and easily led by others, unable to discern roles, loyalties, best interests, direction in lifeStage 6 Love Young adultLasting longer as young adults choose to stay in school and not settle but has typically been a stage of forming significant relationships and settling down.Intimacy vs. Isolation through dating and exploring relationship, develops capacity for emotional connection and love or experiences inadequacy or failure in relating to others Young adult able to connect with significant other and be intimate, establish committed relationship or learns to isolate from others, becomes alienated. Stage 7 Caring Mid-life crisis: self-evaluation occurs, leading to positive new direction and sense of role relationship in the life cycleGenerativity vs. Stagnation-through measuring success and failures of life, adult is inspired to helping others, next generation or experiences crisis and is unable to relate to or guide next generationAdult becomes inspiration and guide for younger generation or stagnates and is unable to relate to next generationsStage 8 WisdomOld ageElder suffers decline due to aging, illness, possibility of dying, role displacement.Ego Integrity vs. Despair-reflecting on past, elder reviews accomplishments, failures and has crisis between acceptance and bitternessElder is able to resolve previous and present challenges and develops wisdom or is unable to resolve earlier crises or face current illness or possibility of death and despairs in face of aging challenges

The problem with Eriksons TheoryEriksons theory is useful because it addresses both personality stability and personality change. To some degree, personality is stable, because childhood experiences influence people even as adults. However, personality also changes and develops over the life span as people face new challenges. The problem with Eriksons theory, as with many stage theories of development, is that he describes only a typical pattern. The theory doesnt acknowledge the many differences among individuals.RelatingBy understanding and learning about Eriksons theory, my field of study is Marketing I can use this information, to understand what each age group is looking for maybe in a product, person, or thing. For example marketing for a book that every school aged can relate to no matter what background they came from. Erik Erikson was certainly an enlightened thinker and provided a new outlook on Freudian thought. His theory is still valid today and helps many developmental psychologists.