T.O.P. Prelim Lectures: Erikson's Post-Freudian Theory PDF

T.O.P. Prelim Lectures Chapter 7: Erikson | Post-Freudian Theory Samantha Kim A. de Vera, RPm, RGC 1 Contents I. Overview of Post-Freudian Theory II. Biography of Erik Erikson III. The Ego in Post-Freudian Theory IV. Stages of Psychosocial Dev...

T.O.P. Prelim Lectures Chapter 7: Erikson | Post-Freudian Theory Samantha Kim A. de Vera, RPm, RGC 1 Contents I. Overview of Post-Freudian Theory II. Biography of Erik Erikson III. The Ego in Post-Freudian Theory IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development V. Erikson’s Methods of Investigation VI. Concept of Humanity 2 I. Overview of Post-Freudian Theory Erik Erikson, the person who coined the term identity crisis. Identity Crisis. A turning point in one’s life that may either strengthen or weaken personality. Erikson intended his theory of personality to extend rather than repudiate Freud’s assumptions and to offer a new “way of looking at things” His post-Freudian theory extended Freud’s infantile developmental stages into adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Erikson suggested that at each stage a specific psychosocial struggle contributes to the formation of personality. Erikson placed more emphasis on both social and historical influences. 3 II. Biography of Erik Erikson Born June 15, 1902, in southern Germany, Erikson was brought up by his mother and stepfather, but he remained uncertain of the true identity of his biological father. One of the founders of the school was Anna Freud, who became not only Erikson’s employer, but his psychoanalyst as well. Erikson’s search for identity took him through some difficult experiences during 4 his adult developmental stage III. The Ego in Post-Freudian Theory Erikson held that our ego is a positive force that creates a self-identity, a sense of “I.” During childhood, the ego is weak, pliable, and fragile; but by adolescence it should begin to take form and gain strength. Erikson saw the ego as a partially unconscious organizing agency that synthesizes our present experiences with past self-identities and also with anticipated images of self. 5 Horney and Freud Compared Erikson (1968) identified three interrelated aspects of ego: Body Ego. Refers to experiences with our body; a way of seeing our physical self as different from other people. Ego Ideal. Represents the image we have of ourselves in comparison with an established ideal; it is responsible for our being satisfied or dissatisfied not only with our physical self but with our entire personal identity. Ego Identity. The image we have of ourselves in the variety of social roles we play. 6 Society’s Influence To Erikson, the ego exists as potential at birth, but it must emerge from within a cultural environment. Pseudospecies. An illusion perpetrated and perpetuated by a particular society that it is somehow chosen to be the human species. One of Erikson’s principal contributions to personality theory was his extension of the Freudian early stages of development to include school age, youth, adulthood, and old age. 7 Epigenetic Principle A term borrowed from embryology. Epigenetic development implies a step-by-step growth of fetal organs. It develops, or should develop, according to a predetermined rate and in a fixed sequence. Erikson (1968) described the epigenetic principle by saying that “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” 8 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Comprehension of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development requires an understanding of several basic points. First, growth takes place according to the epigenetic principle. Second, in every stage of life there is an interaction of opposites—that is, a conflict between a syntonic (harmonious) element and a dystonic (disruptive) element. Third, at each stage, the conflict between the dystonic and syntonic elements produces an ego quality or ego strength, which Erikson referred to as a basic strength. Fourth, too little basic strength at any one stage results in a core pathology for that stage. 9 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Comprehension of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development requires an understanding of several basic points. Fifth, although Erikson referred to his eight stages as psychosocial stages, he never lost sight of the biological aspect of human development. Sixth, events in earlier stages do not cause later personality development. Seventh, during each stage, but especially from adolescence forward, personality development is characterized by an identity crisis, which Erikson (1968) called “a turning point, a crucial period of increased vulnerability and heightened potential” 10 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Infancy. A period encompassing approximately the first year of life and paralleling Freud’s oral phase of development. Psychosexual Mode: Oral-Sensory Mode Psychosocial Crisis: Basic Trust versus Basic Mistrust Basic Strength: Hope Core Pathology: Withdrawal 11 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Early Childhood. A period paralleling Freud’s anal stage and encompassing approximately the 2nd and 3rd years of life. Psychosexual Mode: Anal-Urethral-Muscular Mode Psychosocial Crisis: Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt Basic Strength: Will Core Pathology: Compulsion 12 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Play Age. A period covering the same time as Freud’s phallic phase—roughly ages 3 to 5 years. Psychosexual Mode: Genital-Locomotor Mode Psychosocial Crisis: Initiative versus Guilt Basic Strength: Purpose Core Pathology: Inhibition 13 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development School Age. Covers development from about age 6 to approximately age 12 or 13 and matches the latency years of Freud’s theory. Psychosexual Mode: Latency Psychosocial Crisis: Industry versus Inferiority Basic Strength: Competence Core Pathology: Inertia 14 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Adolescence. The period from puberty to young adulthood, is one of the most crucial developmental stages because, by the end of this period, a person must gain a firm sense of ego identity. Psychosexual Mode: Puberty Psychosocial Crisis: Identity versus Identity Confusion Basic Strength: Fidelity Core Pathology: Role Repudiation 15 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Young Adulthood. A time from about age 19 to 30. Psychosexual Mode: Genitality Psychosocial Crisis: Intimacy versus Isolation Basic Strength: Love Core Pathology: Exclusivity 16 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Adulthood. For most people, this is the longest stage of development, spanning the years from about age 31 to 60. Psychosexual Mode: Procreativity Psychosocial Crisis: Generativity versus Stagnation Basic Strength: Care Core Pathology: Rejectivity 17 IV. Stages of Psychosocial Development Old Age. Old age can be a time of joy, playfulness, and wonder; but it is also a time of senility, depression, and despair. Psychosexual Mode: Generalized Sensuality Psychosocial Crisis: Integrity versus Despair Basic Strength: Wisdom Core Pathology: Disdain 18 V. Erikson’s Methods of Investigation Anthropological Studies. In 1937, Erikson made a field trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to investigate the causes of apathy among Sioux children. Two years later, Erikson made a similar field trip to northern California to study people of the Yurok nation, who lived mostly on salmon fishing. Psychohistory. A controversial field that combines psychoanalytic concepts with historical methods. 20 VI. Concept of Humanity: Erikson’s Post- Freudian Theory Erikson was not as deterministic as Freud, but neither did he believe strongly in free choice. His position was somewhere in the middle. On the dimension of pessimism versus optimism, Erikson tended to be somewhat optimistic. Erikson did not specifically address the issue of causality versus teleology, but his view of humanity suggests that people are influenced more by biological and social forces than by their view of the future. 21 VI. Concept of Humanity: Erikson’s Post- Freudian Theory On the fourth dimension, conscious versus unconscious determinants, Erikson’s position is mixed. Erikson’s theory, of course, is more social than biological, although it does not overlook anatomy and other physiological factors in personalitydevelopment. Erikson tended to place more emphasis on individual differences than on universal characteristics. 22 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! :) ANY QUESTIONS? 23