Erik Erikson Study Notes

Erik Erikson: An Overview

• Born in 1902 in Germany to a Jewish mother.

• Experienced early struggles with identity, notably between Danish and Jewish heritage.

• Notable roles: developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst.

• Trained at Freud's Institute in Vienna, notably as a mentee of Anna Freud.

• Held academic appointments at the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard.

• Passed away in 1994.

The Epigenetic Principle

• Definition: "Anything that grows has a ground plan, and that out of this ground plan, the parts arise, each part having its time of special ascendancy, until all parts have arisen to form a functioning whole."

• Implication: Growth and development unfold based on a predetermined plan, where each stage has its own significance and timing.

Psychosocial Stages of Development

• Emphasizes a lifespan approach.

• Provides an alternative framework to Freud’s psychosexual stages.

• Focuses on social interactions, cultural influences, and the concept of trust throughout life.

The Psychosocial Stages

• The stages are depicted in an Epigenetic Chart:

  1. Infancy (Trust vs. Mistrust)

  • Development of trust when needs are met.

  1. Early Childhood (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt)

  • Development of personal control and independence.

  1. Play Age (Initiative vs. Guilt)

  • Initiative is encouraged through play; feeling guilty when overstepping boundaries.

  1. School Age (Industry vs. Inferiority)

  • Development of competence through completion of tasks.

  1. Adolescence (Identity vs. Role Confusion)

  • Adolescents explore personal identity and sense of self.

  1. Young Adulthood (Intimacy vs. Isolation)

  • Development of intimate relationships; fear of isolation emerges.

  1. Adulthood (Generativity vs. Stagnation)

  • Focus on productivity and contribution to society; risk of self-absorption.

  1. Old Age (Integrity vs. Despair)

  • Reflection on life; feeling a sense of fulfillment or regret.

  1. Dystonic Resurgence or Gerotranscendence (A potential ninth stage)

  • Observed in individuals aged 80 to 90.

  • No new crisis but a return to earlier issues, including acceptance of death and reflections on kinship.

  • Associated with spiritual growth and reflection, emphasizing positive syntonic elements such as trust and autonomy that contribute to peace of mind.

Comparison of Psychosocial and Freud's Psychosexual Stages

• Erikson's psychosocial stages contrasted with Freud’s psychosexual stages, emphasizing socially and culturally influenced development over purely biological urges.

Stages of Psychosocial Development and Their Significance

• The psychosocial stages have significant relationships to cultural elements:

  • Trust vs. Mistrust

  • Strength: Hope

  • Influences from maternal figures and cosmic order.

  • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

  • Strength: Will

  • Influences from parental figures and laws.

  • Initiative vs. Guilt

  • Strength: Purpose

  • Influences from family structure.

  • Industry vs. Inferiority

  • Strength: Competence

  • Influences from community and educational institutions.

  • Identity vs. Identity Diffusion

  • Strength: Fidelity

  • Influences from peer groups and socioeconomic factors.

  • Intimacy vs. Isolation

  • Strength: Love

  • Influences from partners and friendships.

  • Generativity vs. Self-absorption

  • Strength: Care

  • Influences from household and social responsibilities.

  • Integrity vs. Despair

  • Strength: Wisdom

  • Influences from mankind and shared traditions.

Racial and Ethnic Identity

• Discussion on exaggerated senses of difference among nations and ethnic groups leading to conflict.

• Concepts include racial and religious prejudice.

• Introduction of the term "Pseudospeciation" with examples to elaborate on these issues.

Research on Development Through Psychosocial Stages

• Identity Status

  • Identity Achiever: Clear, consistent personality; productive.

  • Moratorium: Philosophically concerned; rebellious; nonconforming.

  • Identity Diffusion: Unpredictable; reluctant to act.

  • Foreclosure: Conventional; moralistic.

• Other Psychosocial Stages

  • Related to the construct of Psychosocial Balance, including sentiments like trust, industry, identity, and ego integrity that manifest in different life stages.

• Evidence that psychosocial balance scores increase with age.

Correlates of Stage Measures

• Establishments of relationships among stages and various life outcomes, including:

  • Identity and career choice.

  • Mature defense mechanisms.

  • Self-concept.

  • Generativity and parenting.

  • Ego integrity correlating with lower fear of death.

Psychoanalytic Social Psychology

• Examination of the influence of society and culture on personality development, raising questions about how these larger contexts shape individual experiences.