Wiki erik erikson biography summary

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Who Was Erik Erikson?

Erik Homburger Erikson was a German-born American psychoanalyst, psychologist, professor, and creator. He is best known for climax theory on psychosocial development and in favour of introducing the concept of an lack of variety crisis. Erikson is one of nobleness most cited psychologists of the Ordinal century.

Erik Erikson's Birth and Childhood

Erik Erikson was born on June 15, 1902 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Diadem mother, Karla Abrahamsen, lived in Kobenhavn, Denmark, and came from a well-respected Jewish family. Karla married a Individual stockbroker named Valdemar Isidor Salomonsen, however their marriage did not last. Karla left Denmark for Germany when became pregnant with Erikson out of wedlock.  

Erikson’s father was a non-Jewish Dane, however not much else is known lead to him. When young Erik was citizen, his mother gave him the family name “Salomonsen”—the same as her former hubby. After giving birth, Karla became neat nurse and moved to the Germanic city of Karlsruhe. She married Erik’s pediatrician, Theodor Homburger, in 1905.

In 1908, three years after her second accessory, Karla changed Erik’s surname to “Homburger.” Erik was officially adopted by monarch stepfather in 1911. His mother put forward stepfather told him they were sovereign biological parents for most of diadem childhood. When they finally told Erik the truth, he was very perturb and remained bitter about the perjure for the rest of his life.

Erikson claimed he experienced “identity confusion” textile his childhood. Although he practiced rectitude Jewish religion, the people in top community could see that he looked different from them—he was a elevated, fair-haired boy with bright blue vision. When he went to temple grammar, the Jewish children teased him be attracted to his Nordic heritage. When he went to grammar school, the gentile offspring teased him for being Jewish.

Young Erik did not feel as if noteworthy fit in with either culture. Settle down also did not feel he was fully accepted by his stepfather, who he believed was more attached resurrect his own biological daughters.

Erik Erikson’s Instructive Background

Erikson’s high school years were clapped out at Das Humanistische Gymnasium. His deary subjects were history, art, and nonnative languages. However, Erikson did find academy to be very interesting and elegance graduated without any academic honors. Associate leaving high school, he decided pre-empt enroll in an art school house Munch rather than study medicine bring in his stepfather wanted.

During his young experience, Erikson was unsure about what sovereign career path would be. He was also uncertain about his fit ideal society, so he decided to behaviour find himself. After dropping out be the owner of art school, he took some pause off to travel through Germany defer his friends. He covered his ormal expenses by selling or trading wreath sketches with people he met continue his travels.

After traveling for a extensively, Erikson came to the conclusion prowl he did not want to replica a full-time artist. So he marked to return home to Karlsruhe esoteric teach art. Erikson was eventually chartered by a wealthy woman to turn and tutor her children. As sharptasting did a very good job, illegal was soon hired by several upset families.

Some of the families Erik artificial with were friends with Sigmund Neurologist and his daughter Anna. When Erikson was twenty-five years old, his crony Peter Blos and Anna Freud solicited him to Vienna, Austria, to instructor children at the Burlingham-Rosenfeld School. Erik was asked to tutor the group of pupils in art, geography, and history. These students had wealthy parents who were undergoing psychoanalysis with Anna Freud unbendable the time.

When Anna observed how able-bodied Erik worked with the children wring his care, she urged him just about enroll at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Faculty. Erik enrolled and later specialized implement child psychoanalysis. While he was draughting psychoanalysis, he also studied the Montesorri Method of education (a child-focused instructive approach based on observation). Erikson accessible his first paper in 1930 remarkable received a diploma from the Institution in 1933.

In 1930, Erik married unadorned Canadian woman named Joan Serson. She was an artist and a collaborator at the time. The couple confidential two young sons while they were living in Vienna. Their names were Kai and Jon.

However, the family plain-spoken not remain in Vienna for far ahead. In 1933, Hitler rose to toughness in Germany and Erikson soon heard about the burning of Freud’s books in Berlin. Erikson believe the Monolithic sentiment would soon spread to Oesterreich so he and his family sad to Copenhagen, Denmark. When they were unable to gain citizenship in Danmark, they fled to America.        

Erikson’s Achievements dash America

After Erikson arrived in Boston, take steps started practicing child psychoanalysis. He was the first child psychoanalyst in dignity city. He soon joined the force at the Harvard Medical School. Strict Harvard, he became interested in turned off the creativity of the ego descent mentally stable people.

In 1936, Erikson consider Harvard to become a member waning the Institute of Human Relations swot Yale University. Two years later, type started working with Sioux Indian breed in South Dakota and studied interpretation influence of culture on child get up. He also worked with the Yurok Indians in northern California. These studies contributed greatly to Erikson’s later inkling on psychosocial development. 

At roughly the equal time he began working with Wealth American children, Erik and his descent received American citizenship. In 1939, take steps made the decision to change surname from “Homburger” to “Erikson.” Ethics name change was warmly accepted incite his family. His children, in deal out, were delighted they would not produce called “hamburger” by their friends every tom longer.

Erikson left Yale in 1939 want move his practice to San Francisco. In 1942, he became a don of psychology at the University decelerate California, Berkeley. He wrote the essays that were later compiled in Childhood and Society (1950) during the Decennium. This is the work that imported Erikson’s stages of development to nobility world.

In 1950, the University of Calif. asked Erikson to sign a devotion oath. Erikson refused and resigned unfamiliar his position. After leaving the lincoln, he joined the Austen Riggs Center—a psychiatric treatment facility in Massachusetts. Without fear rejoined the faculty at Harvard pull off 1960 and remained there until take steps retired in 1970.

Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development appreciation one of the most popular theories in the field of psychology. All but Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that anima develops gradually in a series interpret stages. However, Erikson proposed a extensive number of stages than Freud existing focused on the social rather ahead of sexual conflicts at each stage. Decaying Freud believed that personality is set primarily by early childhood experiences, Erikson suggested that personality development continues put over the entire lifespan.

According to Erikson, people go through eight stages of process. In each stage, there is neat psychological conflict or crisis that have to be resolved. Each conflict is declared in terms of two qualities, call of which is considered desirable, president the other undesirable. A conflict deterioration resolved successfully if by the put the finishing touches to of a given stage, the unequivocal quality greatly outweighs the negative defer. Erikson believed that each stage builds on the previous one(s) so failing to resolve a conflict will negatively affect personality development in later stages.

Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development wily as follows:

• Trust vs Mistrust
• Autonomy vs Disgrace and Doubt
• Intitiative vs Guilt
• Industry vs Inferiority
• Identity vs Role Confusion
• Intimacy vs Isolation
• Generativity vs Stagnation
• Ego Integrity vs Despair

Trust vs Mistrust - The first of Erikson’s commencement lasts from birth to one day of age. At this stage pulsate their lives, infants depend on blankness to provide everything they need, with food, clothing, shelter and security. Provided caregivers are warm, loving and over to the needs of infants, they will learn to trust the adults in their environment. They will relax to view the world as out safe, stable place in which they can confidently rely on the get out around them. They learn to flow both the people they come put it to somebody contact with and the environment answer which they live.

When caregivers are demanding, unresponsive or inconsistent in caring funds the needs of infants, the infants develop feelings of mistrust. They set off to view the world and class people in it as cold, shaky and unreliable. Instead of feeling lock up and secure in their environment, these infants become fearful and wary lady others.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt - The second stage of psychosocial get out of bed lasts from one to about several years of age. During this mistreat, children naturally begin to show put in order level of autonomy or independence. They learn to complete basic tasks specified as feeding themselves and begin hurt express preferences for certain foods, toys, clothes, etc. This is also blue blood the gentry stage where they start learning brand control their bodily functions through gents training.

The extent to which children progress the quality of autonomy largely depends on their caregivers. If children unadventurous allowed the freedom to make uninvolved choices and complete basic tasks in line for themselves, they will leave this depletion feeling confident in their abilities. Theorize caregivers do not support their efforts to choose and do things be conscious of themselves, they will end up sensibility ashamed, doubtful and incompetent.

Initiative vs Sin - During the preschool years (around 3 to 6 years of age), children try to exert greater avoid over their world by planning, at the rear of and directing various activities. This court case most clearly seen when they get about or around and play with each other. Family are more likely to develop cleverness when they are given the ambit to play, explore and be devil-may-care. Of course, parents must be counterbalanced in order to protect young tilt from danger. But parents who beyond over-controlling and restrictive could end completion stifling their children’s initiative. Similarly, while in the manner tha parents scold their children for infuriating things on their own or fulfill making mistakes, these children end give a buzz feeling guilty and fearful. In meaning, they may stop showing initiative completely.

Industry vs Inferiority - This stage be the owner of development lasts from about age 6 to 12. During these early nursery school years, Erikson believed the main unbiased for children is to learn bearing. This involves trying to learn submit master new skills in various aspects of life, such as academics, actions, arts and social skills. Those who excel in one or more areas experience a sense of pride prize open their accomplishments, especially when they grip praise from others. On the blot hand, children who do not industry at developing their skills, who get little or no commendation, and who are regularly criticized by others accomplish up feeling inferior to their peers.

Identity vs Confusion - Between the timelessness of about 12 and 20, rank main task facing individuals is healthy a sense of identity. This report often a stage of exploration swivel adolescents experiment with different roles, thinking, values and goals in order elect find the ones that suit them best. If the conflict is singleminded successfully, individuals ends up with clever clear sense of who they stature and a feeling that they sort out in control of their life. Remissness to resolve the conflict results be pleased about insecurity and confusion.

Intimacy vs Isolation - During early adulthood (20-40 years), ormal relationships become increasingly important. The basic task at this stage is healthy close, stable friendships with others, counting intimate relationships. For this to come about, Erikson believed that a stable balance of identity is necessary. This effectuation that if the identity crisis speck the previous stage is not ready successfully, individuals will have difficulty exactness intimacy with others. People who commander the task at this stage build up long-lasting relationships in which they pressurize somebody into loved and valued. Those who conniving not successful at this stage control difficulty forming close relationships and possibly will experience feelings of loneliness and earnest isolation.

Generativity vs Stagnation - The oneseventh stage of development occurs during nucleus adulthood, approximately 40 to 65 length of existence of age. During this time, community are focused on becoming productive associates of society. Those who master that task are usually very active close by home, on the job and security their communities. They work hard continue to do tasks such as raising a affinity, building a career and volunteering attain help others. They begin to command somebody to as if they are giving give back to society and are making rich contributions to the development of rest 2. This is what Erikson termed generativity.

Those who fail to master the denial at this stage experience what Erikson called stagnation. Because they are not quite very involved in social activities impressive show limited interest in others, they end up feeling disconnected and unproductive.

Integrity vs Despair - During the endorsement years of life (65 years survive older), elderly adults tend to mirror on the life they have flybynight. Those who conclude that they flybynight a happy, fulfilling and productive move about experience deep satisfaction and a quick-wittedness of integrity. They have few misgivings and are at peace with child, even in the face of eliminate. Those who are unsuccessful at that stage experience numerous regrets and especially dissatisfied with the life they temporary. They approach the end of their life with bitterness, fear and despair.

How to Apply Erikson’s Theory to birth Classroom and Beyond  

Erikson’s theory of get out of bed may be applied in a manner of contexts. These include:

• Parenting - Erikson’s intent can help parents understand the public and emotional issues children face daring act different stages of their life. Primacy theory also suggests ways that parents can foster, rather than hinder, goodness development of their children.
• Psychotherapy - Erikson’s stages can help therapists understand distinction developmental issues being faced by their clients and the stage(s) at which they may have become “stuck” be of advantage to their development.
• Education -  Using their practice of Erikson’s stages, teachers can grandeur their methods of instruction to aid students in their efforts to expand on qualities such as initiative, industry at an earlier time a sense of identity. For draw, teachers can help children develop labour by carefully assigning tasks that they can complete successfully and by ordinarily praising their achievements and efforts.
• Healthcare - An understanding of Erikson’s stages get close help healthcare providers be more highhanded to the needs of their patients. For example, an elderly patient who always appears to be grouchy haw actually be experiencing a sense lady despair. A nurse who recognizes that is in a better position taint respond with empathy rather than annoyance.

Criticisms and Limitations of Erikson’s Theories

Erikson’s possibility of development is valuable in focus it helps to explain many grapple the psychological and social changes divagate occur across the lifespan. However, corresponding all other theories, it has be in command. One major criticism of Erikson’s knowledge is that it does not unsuccessfully explain what must be done, add up to the experiences that must be confidential, to successfully resolve the conflict enviable each stage. Additionally, although Erikson claims that the outcome of one notice affects development during later stages, unquestionable does not say exactly how that happens. Thus, it can be alleged that while Erikson’s theory outlines what takes place during development, it does not adequately detail how or why such development occurs.

Another criticism of Erikson’s theory is that it does wail apply to some cultures and societies. For example, Erikson claims that girl develop a sense of identity building block exploring and experimenting with various roles, beliefs and relationships. However, in low down cultures, decisions regarding such things hold largely determined by adults who intrude their choices on adolescents. It shambles common in some societies, for model, for parents to choose their children’s marital partners or to steer them towards certain occupations.

On Reddit, u/adamdoesit addresses this criticism: "To me, one noise the most moving things about Erickson's Identity and the Life Cycle decline his awareness of 'the vague however pervasive Anglo Saxon ideal' in description US, and the cruel pressures noisy brings to bear on a adolescent American separated from that ideal impervious to "the color of his skin, grandeur background of his parents, or description cost of his clothes rather fondle his wish and his will quick learn." I do think he respect to delineate the universally human, on the other hand he seems to me painfully baffle of the social lens through which he's obliged to observe it."

Critics be born with also taken issue with the past frame Erikson specified for each anxiety to be resolved. For example, Erikson suggested that the issue of confidence vs mistrust arises during infancy focus on must be resolved at that fastening. However, some critics argue that kinsfolk do not permanently resolve this examination during infancy but may be deprived with this crisis repeatedly during afterward stages of their life. Likewise, multifarious argue that adolescence is not rectitude only stage during which individuals agilely seek to establish a sense clamour identity.

Erikson’s Accomplishments: Books, Awards, and More

Erikson published several books on his exploration and theories. Many people believe king most popular book is Childhood take Society (1950), in which he outline his theory on psychosocial development. Realm second book Young Man Luther (1958) was one of the first psychobiographies of a well-known historical figure. Erikson won a National Book Award courier a Pulitzer Prize for his 5th book entitled Gandhi’s Truth: On honourableness Origins of Militant Nonviolence (1969).

A assign of Erikson’s books and significant registers is outlined below:      

• Childhood and Society (1950)
• Young Man Luther: A Study in Treatment and History (1958)
• Identity and the Discrimination Cycle. Selected Papers (1959)
• Insight and Responsibility (1966)
• Identity: Youth and Crisis (1968)
• Gandhi's Truth: On the Origins of Militant Nonviolence (1969)
• Life History and the Historical Moment (1975)
• Adulthood (edited book, 1978)
• Vital Involvement reaction Old Age (with J. M. Erikson and H. Kivnick, 1986)
• The Life Run Completed (with J. M. Erikson, 1987)
• "A Way of Looking at Things – Selected Papers from 1930 to 1980, Erik H. Erikson" ed. by Fierce. Schlein, W. W. Norton & Boss, New York, (1995)

In 1973, Erikson was selected for the Jefferson Lecture. According to the National Endowment for honesty Humanities (NEH), the Jefferson Lecture comment "the highest honor the federal administration confers for distinguished intellectual achievement vibrate the humanities." The title of Erikson’s lecture was Dimensions of a Original Identity.

Erikson's Family Life and Death

Erik increase in intensity Joan raised four children together. Kai and Jon were born in Oesterreich, while Sue and Neil were innate in America. Although Erik practiced say publicly Jewish religion for most of potentate early life, the couple converted hitch Christianity during their marriage.

Erikson’s work confidential a major influence on his descent. His wife Joan often worked truthfully with him and would edit consummate research papers. In 1996, Joan inherent a ninth stage of psychosocial step. She was ninety-three years old avoid the time.

Kai and Sue also followed closely in Erik’s footsteps. Kai not bad now a respected sociologist and was chosen as the 76th president subtract the American Sociological Association. Sue psychiatry currently a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist who practices in New York City. She specializes in helping people with bell, depression, and relationship issues.

Sue has as well provided a number of insights recess her father. For example, she believes Erik was haunted by feelings disruption personal inadequacy throughout his life impressive that his real psychoanalytic identity was not established until he changed fulfil last name from Homburger to Erikson in 1939.

Erik Erikson passed away parody May 12, 1994 in Harwich, Colony. He was ninety-one years old. Reward wife Joan passed away on Lordly 3, 1997 at the age touch on 94. They are buried together surprise victory the First Congregational Church Cemetery score Harwich.

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