Module 6: Erik Erikson - Post-Freudian Theory

erik erikson

neo-Freudian, humanistic; 8 psychosocial stages of development: theory shows how people evolve through the life span. Each stage is marked by a psychological crisis that involves confronting "Who am I?"

post-freudian theory

Erikson's theory of personality that extended Freud's developmental stages into old age. At each age, a specific psychosocial struggle contributes to the formation of personality.

psychosocial struggle

Erikson suggested that at each stage a specific ____ contributes to the formation of personality.

identity crisis

a turning point in one's life that may either strengthen or weaken one's personality.

social and historical

In contrast to Freud, Erikson placed more emphasis on _______ and ___________ influences.

ego

a positive force that creates a self-identity, a sense of "I" (erikson)

epigenetic principle

In Erikson's theory, the notion that development is guided by an underlying plan in which certain issues have their own particular times of importance.

This is borrowed from the idea of embryo development, which follows a predetermined sequential stage.

Syntonic (Erikson)

Erikson's term for the positive element (harmonious) in each pair of opposites that characterize his eight stages of development.

Dystonic (Erikson)

Erikson's term for the negative element (disruptive) in each pair of opposites that characterizes the eight stages of development.

basic strengths (erikson)

motivating characteristics and beliefs that derive from the satisfactory resolution of the crisis at each developmental stage

At each stage, the conflict between the dystonic and syntonic elements produces an ego quality or ego strength, which Erikson referred to as a ____________.

core pathology

A psychosocial disorder at any of the eight stages of development that results from too little basic strength.

ego identity

Erikson's term for a firm sense of who one is and what one stands for

it is shaped by a multiplicity of conflicts and events—past, present, and anticipated.

competence; healthy

Positive outcome: successful completion of the conflict leads to a sense of __________, which in turn contributes to a ___________ personality.

inadequacy; unhealthy

negative outcome: Failure to master tasks results in feelings of __________, which can lead to an _________ personality

infancy, early childhood, play age, school age, adolescence, young adulthood, adulthood, old age

the 8 stages of life cycle according to erikson

trust vs. mistrust

autonomy vs. shame and doubt

initiative vs. guilt

industry vs. inferiority

identity vs. role confusion

intimacy vs. isolation

generativity vs. stagnation

ego integrity vs. despair

identity crises in 8 stages of life cycle according to erikson

infancy (birth - 1 yo)

it is a time of incorporation, with individuals "taking in" not only through their mouth but through their various sense organs as well.

primary caregiver

Infants' most significant interpersonal relations (erikson)

trust vs mistrust

Erikson's first stage during the first year of life, infants learn to trust when they are cared for in a consistent warm manner

hope and withdrawal

Basic strength and core pathology of infancy

early childhood (2-3 yo)

a stage where individuals master body functions such as urinating, walking, throwing, holding, and so on

autonomy vs shame and doubt

Erikson psychosocial crisis resolved in the second year of life. Ability to self-care.

autonomy (erikson)

children's sense of control over their interpersonal environment, as well as a measure of self-control.

shame and doubt

Feelings that develop instead of the feeling of autonomy when the crisis dominating the second stage of development is resolved negatively.

will and compulsion

Basic strength and core pathology of early childhood

play age (3-5 yo)

A period covering the same time as Freud's phallic phase

children are developing locomotion, language skills, curiosity, imagination, and the ability to set goals.

Oedipus complex

it is but one of several important developments during the play stage.

purpose and inhibition

Basic strength; core pathology of play age

school age (6-13 yo)

At this age, the social world of children is expanding beyond family to include peers, teachers, and other adult models

industry vs inferiority

a psychological crisis

Erikson's stage between 6 and 11 years, when the child learns to be productive

industry

a willingness to remain busy with something and to finish a job. School-age children learn to work and play at activities directed toward acquiring job skills and toward learning the rules of cooperation.

inferiority

the dystonic quality of school age that is developed when children's work is insufficient to accomplish their goals

competence and inertia

Basic strength; core pathology of school age

social; sexual

adolescence as a period of _______ latency, just as he saw school age as a time of ________ latency.

adolescence (13-19 yo)

one of the most crucial developmental stages because, by the end of this period, a person must gain a firm sense of identity.

they look for new roles to help them discover their sexual, ideological, and occupational identities.

Identity vs. Role Confusion (Erikson)

a psychological crisis

Erikson's term for the fifth stage of development, in which the person tries to figure out "who am I?" but is confused as to which of many possible roles to adopt

ego identity

the search for it reaches a climax during adolescence as young people strive to find out who they are and who they are not.

fidelity and role repudiation

Basic strength; core pathology of adolescence

James Marcia

psychologist who developed the four stages of identity statuses

identity statuses

Marcia's term for states of ego development that depend on the presence or absence of crisis and commitment

crisis

the extent to which a person actively explores different identities, beliefs and roles (marcia)

commitment

The level of dedication to a chosen identity, belief system, or life path (marcia)

moratorium

identity achievement

foreclosure

identity diffusion

four stages of adolescent identity according to marcia (MIaFId)

identity achievement

Adultlike acceptance of social, religious, political, or vocational alternatives

The individual has explored different options and made a firm commitment to an identity (e.g., beliefs, career, values).

foreclosure

Commitment predetermined by political, social, or religious affiliations.

The individual has committed to an identity without exploring alternatives. Their choices are often based on societal or parental expectations.

Moratorium

Period of exploration of alternatives

The individual is actively exploring different identities but has not yet committed to one. They are in a period of questioning and self-discovery.

identity diffusuion

Ambiguous belief systems; no vocational commitment

The individual has neither explored nor committed to any particular identity. They may feel lost or indifferent about making future choices.

young adulthood (19-30 yo)

a time from about age 19 to 30 - is circumscribed not so much by time as by the acquisition of intimacy at the beginning of the stage and the development of generativity at the end.

intimacy vs. isolation

a psychological crisis

Erikson's stage in which individuals form deeply personal relationships, marry, begin families

intimacy

the ability to fuse one's identity with that of another person without fear of losing it.

isolation

the incapacity to take chances with one's identity by sharing true intimacy

love and exclusivity

Basic strength; core pathology of young adulthood

Robert Sternberg

he devised the theory of love

intimacy, passion, commitment

three components of love

intimacy

An emotional element, that involves self-disclosure, which leads to connection, warmth, and trust.

passion

a motivational element, based on inner drives that translate physiological arousal into sexual desire.

commitment

a cognitive element, the decision to love and make the relationship work (exclusive or marry).

liking

infatuation

fatous love

empty love

romantic love

consumate love

companionate love

non love

types of love

liking

intimacy is present but feelings of passion and commitment in the romantic sense are missing.

fatuous love

A relationship based on strong attraction and a quick decision to stay together, without deep emotional connection.

empty love

A relationship that stays together out of obligation rather than emotional connection or passion.

companionate love

is an intimate, but non passionate sort of love. It includes the intimacy and the commitment component of the triangle

romantic love

Emotional closeness and physical attraction, but no long-term commitment yet

infatuation

It is characterized by feelings of lust and physical passion without intimacy and commitment

consummate love

The ideal form of love, balancing emotional closeness, physical attraction, and long-term commitment

non-love

This is the absence of love—casual interactions without emotional connection

adulthood (31-60 yo)

The stage from about ages 31 to 60 that is characterized by the psychosexual mode of procreativity and the crisis of generativity versus stagnation.

generativity vs stagnation

an identity crisis

Erikson's stage of social development in which middle-aged people begin to devote themselves more to fulfilling one's potential and doing public service

generativity

it is the syntonic quality of adulthood defined as "the generation of new beings as well as new products and new ideas".

stagnation

it is the antithesis of generativity, an attitude by which the generational cycle of productivity and creativity is crippled when people become too absorbed in themselves, too self-indulgent.

care and rejectivity

Basic strength; core pathology of adulthood

old age (erikson)

The eighth and final stage of the life cycle, marked by the psychosocial crisis of integrity versus despair and the basic strength of wisdom.

ego integrity vs despair

An identity crisis (Erikson) People in late adulthood either achieve a sense of integrity of the self by accepting the lives they have lived or yield to despair that their lives cannot be relived

integrity

a feeling of wholeness and coherence, an ability to hold together one's sense of "I-ness" despite diminishing physical and intellectual powers.

despair

it means to be without hope

wisdom and disdain

Basic Strength and Core Pathology

of old age

sensory distortion (erikson)

maladaptive tendency during infancy

impulsiveness

maladaptive tendency during early childhoold

ruthlessness

maladaptive tendency during play age

fanaticism

maladaptive tendency during adolescence

narrow virtousity

maladaptive tendency during school age

promiscuity

maladaptive tendency during young adulthood

overextension

maladaptive tendency during adulthood

presumption

maladaptive tendency during old age