Biography of Erik Erikson Essay

A few years after Eriks birth, her mother took him to a topical anesthetic jewish pediatrician, Dr. Theodor Homburger for a treatment of minor illness. His mother and the pediatrician ultimately fell in love. He quickly deviseed a sand that something was wrong his mother and father were Jewish his own physical visual aspect was clearly Scandinavian. later on he found the truth just about his heritage, his identity crisis was worsened. Rejecting his stepfathers plea to become physician. He went to Europe and enrolled in art train and eager to learn about culture and history. He returned home at the age of 25 prep bed to settle downhearted and teach art for a living.Erikson was asked by his former high school friend Peter Blos to join him as a teacher in Experimental Nursery school in Vienna where he met Anna Freud and her illustrious father Sigmund Freud. Anna Freud was trying to convert psychoanalytic interest in childhood experiences of adult. Erikson shared her pioneerin g interest and was eventu altogethery trained by her as a child analyst. Erikson was still unsure to earn his living a psychoanalyst because still wanted to paint and draw. However, he began to see a conjunctive surrounded by psychoanalysis and art. He observed that childrens dream and do work involve important visual images that only later are translated into speech communication in therapy.Concepts and PrinciplesEriksons position represents a systematic extension of Freuds view of the role of ego in personality functioning. Erikson is a Freudian ego-psychologist.Erikson proposed that ego often operates independently of id emotions and motivation. egotism functions to help individual align to challenges presented by the surrounding.Ego PsychologyEmphasized the integration of biological and psychosociable forces in determination of personality functioning.Epigenetic PrincipleThe idea that merciful commencement is governed by a sequence of stages that depend on genetic or c atching factors This principle says that we develop through a predetermined unfolding of our personalities in eight stages. Our progress through each stage is in give out determined by our success, or lack of success crisis, in all the previous stages. Crisis defined as the crucial period in any stage.Virtue inherent strength or active quality human qualities or strength emerge from successful resolution of crisis.Psychosocial Development Stages of Ego DevelopmentStageBasic ConflictVirtueImportant Events end pointInfancy (birth to 18 months)Trust vs. MistrustHOPEFeedingChildren develop a sentience of trust when compassionategivers provide reliability, care, and affection. A lack of this testament lead to mistrust. Early Childhood (2 to 3 years)Autonomy vs. Shame and headWILLToilet TrainingChildren need to develop a sense experience of personal examine over physical skills and a sense of independence. conquest leads to feelings of autonomy, harm results in feelings of shame and doubt. Preschool/Play Age (3 to 5 years) foremost vs. GuiltPURPOSEExplorationChildren need to begin asserting control and power over the environment. victory in this stage leads to a sense of purpose. Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt. School Age (6 to 11 years)Industry vs. lower rankCOMPETENCESchoolChildren need to cope with new social and pedantic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. Adolescence (12 to 18 years)Identity vs. Role ConfusionFIDELITYSocial RelationshipsTeens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to sting true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a wobbly sense of self. Young Adulthood (19 to 40 years)Intimacy vs. Isolation grappleRelationshipsYoung adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other volume. Success leads to knock-down(prenominal) relationships, wh ile failure results in loneliness and isolation. Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years)Generativity vs. StagnationCAREWork and ParenthoodAdults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having children or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failureresults in shallow involvement in the world. Maturity(65 to death)Ego Integrity vs. despondencyWISDOMReflection on LifeOlder adults need to side back on flavor and feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.Strengths and Weaknesses of Erik Eriksons schemeStrengthsComprehensivenessIt addresses itself to wide variety of phenomenon both normal and abnormal and seeks to biological, social, heathen and historical factors.Heuristic ValueWithin Psychology, Eriksons work has contributed in a flash to lifespan psychology and the development of adu lt psychology.Applied ValueEriksons work has practical impact in the area of child psychology and psychiatry, counseling, education and social work. WeaknessesMale BiasErik Erikson articulated psychosocial stage describes the life cycle hallmarks of white, western society and may not apply considerably to other cultures or even to our own today/present time. Eriksons positive outcome (such as autonomy, initiative, industry) virtues (such as will, purpose and competence) are ofttimes seen as characteristics of healthy male development. And his negative ones, (doubt, guilt and inferiority) are seen as reflecting unhealthy female development. Gilligans studies of girl and womens development hint different positive values emerge in healthy development. Connection, responsibility, and care replace autonomy, masteryand power.Precision and TestabilityEriksons theory fails to meet the amount of precision and testability. He defined the concept of ego to sustain humdrum and continuity in the face of changing fate. Evidently the concept is passing complex and does not readily precise measurement.Therapy/Application of Erik Eriksons systemResearchErikson believed that social and historical factors affect the formation of ego identity, which in turn affects the nature of the personality. One such example of the work of social factors in personality development is the womens movement. Studies have found that most adolescent women today include a career orientation as part of their ego identity. Research in the area of identity crisis destine that this stage may begin around 12 and be single-minded by the time a person is 18. However, for some people, identity may not occur until as late as age 24.Erikson believed that people in the maturity and old age stage of psychosocial development authorize time recalling and examining their life, accepting or regretting past choices. However one depicted object showed no significant differences between younger adults compar ed to older adults in report frequency of life censures. However, younger people engaged in reflection to gain self-insight and find solutions to current problems, while older people apply reflection of their past to evaluate their livesPlay TherapyErikson used play therapy to bestow research on his theory, focusing on what he called play construction. In his studies, boys and girls constructed a scene for an imaginary movie using dolls, toy animals, automobiles, and wooden blocks. Girls tended to build low enclosures, while boys focused on exteriors, action, and height. Based on biological differences, according to Erikson girls build low enclosures in which people are walled in, andboys would build towers. Research today still persists that traditional gender stereotyping between girls and boys exists. Girls typically play with dolls, jewelry, and toy kitchen implements, while boys play with trucks, soldiers, and guns.Our greatest helplessness lies in giving up. The most certa in way to succeed is constantly to try just one more time. And anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new