Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory

Psychology of Personality

Lecture, Chapter 9

Overview of Post-Freudian Theory

lErikson believed that Freud’s theory should be extended to consider the psychosocial processes of personality development.

lStruggles experienced at each stage of development (beyond adolescence) are characterized as identity crises and may serve as turning points to strengthen or weaken personality.

lErikson offered a life cycle approach to development, in that development continues beyond childhood to include arenas throughout a person’s entire life.

Erikson’s Life

lErikson was born into a single parent family in southern Germany and spent much of his life trying to learn who his father was.

lDespite his anguish regarding the secrets behind the identity of his father, Erikson hid the birth of one of his sons, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, from his other 3 children.

lErikson studied psychoanalysis and was a patient of Anna Freud’s.

lErikson’s life was marked by several name, residence, and career changes.

lHis exposure to numerous cultures, geographic locations, and disciplines greatly assisted his development of personality theory.

The Ego

lEgo is the positive force that creates a self-identity through a person’s ability to adapt to different experiences; body ego, ego ideal, and ego identity.

lEgo exists as potential at birth but must be shaped by society and culture.

lThe ego develops according to the epigenetic principle, the idea that development occurs at a fixed rate and sequence.

Stages of Psychosocial Development

•Growth takes place according to epigenetic principle.

•In every stage there is an interaction of opposites (syntonic and dystonic).

•At each stage, conflict between opposites produces basic strength.

•Too little basic strength at any stage results in core pathology.

•Biology plays a role in development.

•Events in earlier stages do not cause development in later stages, but multiple interactions of events do.

•Each stage is characterized by a particular identity crisis.

Infancy

Early Childhood

Play Age

School Age

Adolescence

Young Adulthood

Adulthood

Old Age

Methods of Investigation

lAnthropological studies of both Sioux and Yurok societies in terms of psychosocial development.

lHistory and society

lCultural roles and tasks

lPsychohistories

Conclusion

lDid Erikson use science in his theory development? Was his theory able to generate research, be falsified, organize data, guide action, be internally consistent, and be parsimonious?

lWhere does Post-Freudian Theory fall on the basic issues concerning the nature of humanity?

lDeterminism vs. free choice

lPessimism vs. optimism

lCausality vs. teleology

lConscious vs. unconscious

lSocial vs. biological influences

lUniqueness vs. similarities