ERIK H. ERIKSONERIK H. ERIKSONPost Freudian TheoryPost Freudian Theory

Diah Fridari3 May 2013

BIOGRAPHY

• Born on June 15, 1902 in Southern Germany

• No formal education, working as an artist• An invitation from Peter Blos to teach

children in a new school in Vienna• Met Anna Freud as his psychoanalyst• Married to Joan Serson and had 4

children• 1933 moved to USA, worked as

researcher in various universities

BIOGRAPHY• 1950 Published his book: Childhood

and Society • 1949 Erikson left California and

returned to Massachusetts worked as therapist at Austen Riggs, a treatment center for psychoanalytic training and research

• 1960 Erikson returned to Harvard and held the position of professor of human development

• He died May 12, 1994

THE EGO in POST-FREUDIAN THEORY

• ID EGO SUPEREGO (Freud’s theory)

Erikson’s Theory:• EGO is a Positive Force that creates a self identity,

a sense of ‘I’• During childhood the ego is weak, pliable, and

fragile and in adolescence it should begin to take form and gain strength

• EGO is a person’s ability to unify experiences and actions in an adaptive manner

• THE FUNCTION OF THE EGO ADJUSTMENT TO THE DEMANDS OF REALITY

• ERIKSON CONSIDER THE CONTEXT OF THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THE CHILD IS GROWING UP

• STRESSES THE INTERRELATION OF THE EGO AND THE SOCIETAL FORCES AFFECTING IT

IMPLICATIONS OF THE EGO

• EPIGENETIC development implies a step by step growth of fetal organs.

• EGO will follows the path of epigenetic development with each stage developing at its proper time

EPIGENETIC PRINCIPLE

BASIC POINTS to understand STAGES of PSYCHOSOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT• Growth takes place according to the

epigenetic principle• In every stage of life there is an

interaction of opposites ---- conflict between syntonic (harmonious) vs a dystonic (disruptive) element

• At each stage, the conflict between the dystonic and syntonic elements produces an ego quality or ego strength

BASIC POINTS to understand STAGES of PSYCHOSOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT• Too little basic strength at any one stage

results in a core pathology for that stage• Erikson never lost sight of the biological

aspect of human development• Events in earlier stages do not cause later

personality development. Ego identity is shaped by a multiplicity of conflicts and events --- past, present and anticipated

• From adolescence forward, personality development is characterized by an identity crisis

CRITICAL PERIODS

• Maturational timetable• Each stage is a critical period• A person has only a limited time to

develop each stage specific capability• There are no second chances in

development• Developments within each psychosocial

stage are critical for the final development of a fully integrated

STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• The Oral-Sensory Stage (0 – 18 month)• The Anal-Musculature Stage (18 month –

3 years)• The Genital-Locomotor Stage (3 – 5

years)• Latency (6 – 11 years)• Puberty and Adolescence (12 – 21 years)• Young Adulthood (21 – 35 years)• Adulthood (35 – 55 years)• Maturity (55 < )

The oral-Sensory Stage (0 – 18 month)

• Trust vs. Mistrust• Pleasant sensory experience

sense of basic trust• Unpleasant sense of mistrust• The emotional crisis Trust vs

Mistrust• Complete trust or complete mistrust?

The Anal-Musculature Stage (18 month – 3 years)

• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt• Infant must learn WHEN TO HOLD ON and

WHEN TO LET GO of all his bodily muscles• Must develop the capability of being able

to control his own overall bodily movements

• The ability to control himself a sense of autonomy

• Inability to control himself shame and doubt

The Genital-Locomotor Stage

(3 – 5 years)• Initiative vs Guilt• If the child is to successfully resolve

the oedipal conflict he must begin to INDEPENDENTLY move away from the parental figures he must be able by himself to move freely in interaction with his environment sense of initiative

• Reverse side sense of guilt

LATENCY (6 – 11 years)

• Industry vs Inferiority• Enter the school• Learns any kind of skills• Learns what to do and how to do

sense of industry• If he feels that he fail to learn it

sense of inferiority

PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENE (12 – 21 years)

• Identity vs Role Confusion (Identity diffusion)

• Feeling about WHO HE IS and WHAT HE CAN DO

• Who am I Self Definition• Identity crisis• Find his role in society sense of

identity

YOUNG ADULTHOOD (21 – 35 years)

• Intimacy vs Isolation• Form a relationship with another

person• Must be able to give of himself totally

(feelings, ideas, goals, attitude and values)

• Give and Take

ADULTHOOD (35 – 55 years)

• Generativity vs Stagnation• Playing the role of a productive and

contributing member of society sense of generativity

• Reverse side sense of stagnation

MATURITY (55 < )

• Ego Integrity vs. Despair• If he has successfully progressed

through his previous stages of development sense of ego integrity feel a full and complete life

• If he has failures through his previous stages

sense of despair

ERIKSON’S METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

• PERSONALITY is a product of history, culture, and biology

• He employed anthropological, historical, sociological and clinical methods to learn about children, adolescents, mature adults and and elderly people

Learning Task

• Summary the Erikson’s Methods of investigation: Anthropological Study and Psychohistory

• Discuss the ego implication in social life• Why does each stage in Psychosocial

Development is critical period?• What kind of psychosocial needs that

should be fulfilled in each stage?• Differentiate the mature personality

and immature personality

Learning Task

• Brown family is a kind of family which is devoted to God. One day, the family was shocked because their son, Sam (19 years old) is being caught by the police in a drug party. Please discuss what makes Sam involved in drug.