Erik Erikson and Psychosocial Theory
Introduction: Erik Erikson - Biography
Erik Erikson is a developmental psychologist who is well-known for his two theories about Stages of Psychosocial development and Identity Crisis. He was born on June 15, 1902, in Frankfurt, Germany. His Jewish mother raised him by herself for a while before getting married to his step father, Dr. Theodor Homberger. In fact, he never knew about the identity of his real father until he grew up and found out by himself. This early confusing experience created his first notion about identity. The concept of identity in human development became more important to him when he was discriminated against at school for his Jewish background and Nordic tall, blonde, blue-eyed appearance.
After finishing high school, Erikson earned a certificate from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society in psychoanalysis. He then taught at a school which was established by Dorothy Burlingham. She was a friend of Anna Freud, a reputed psychologist and also the youngest daughter of Sigmund Freud who created the Psychosexual Theory. Thanks to this relationship, Erikson later had chances to learn and work with the Freuds on some projects and even became Anna Freud’s patient in her work on child psychoanalysis. The opportunities also helped him to shape and develop his career as a psychologist.
Erikson met Joan Serson, a dance instructor when they were both teaching at the same school. They got married in 1930 and had three children. They moved to the United States in 1933 when Erikson started working at Havard Medical School. It was at this time, he also replaced his original name, which was Erik Homberger, with the name Erik H. Erikson, probably to hide his origin. During his teaching career, he was an instructor of psychology at several schools around the US. He also published some books on his theories and researches. His book, Gandhi 's Truth won the Pulitzer Prize and a national Book Award.
In comparison with Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual theory,
Erik Erikson is a developmental psychologist who is well-known for his two theories about Stages of Psychosocial development and Identity Crisis. He was born on June 15, 1902, in Frankfurt, Germany. His Jewish mother raised him by herself for a while before getting married to his step father, Dr. Theodor Homberger. In fact, he never knew about the identity of his real father until he grew up and found out by himself. This early confusing experience created his first notion about identity. The concept of identity in human development became more important to him when he was discriminated against at school for his Jewish background and Nordic tall, blonde, blue-eyed appearance.
After finishing high school, Erikson earned a certificate from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society in psychoanalysis. He then taught at a school which was established by Dorothy Burlingham. She was a friend of Anna Freud, a reputed psychologist and also the youngest daughter of Sigmund Freud who created the Psychosexual Theory. Thanks to this relationship, Erikson later had chances to learn and work with the Freuds on some projects and even became Anna Freud’s patient in her work on child psychoanalysis. The opportunities also helped him to shape and develop his career as a psychologist.
Erikson met Joan Serson, a dance instructor when they were both teaching at the same school. They got married in 1930 and had three children. They moved to the United States in 1933 when Erikson started working at Havard Medical School. It was at this time, he also replaced his original name, which was Erik Homberger, with the name Erik H. Erikson, probably to hide his origin. During his teaching career, he was an instructor of psychology at several schools around the US. He also published some books on his theories and researches. His book, Gandhi 's Truth won the Pulitzer Prize and a national Book Award.
In comparison with Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual theory,
References: The New York Times. (1994). Obituaries: Erik Erikson, 91, Psychoanalyst Who Reshaped Views of Human Growth, Dies. The New York Times.1-5. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/13/obituaries/erik-erikson-91-psychoanalyst-who-reshaped-views-of-human-growth-dies.html?pagewanted=all# Chapman, A. (2006). Erikson 's psychosocial development theory: Erik Erikson 's psychosocial crisis life cycle model - The eight stages of human development. Businessballs. 1-27. Retrieved from http://www.businessballs.com/erik_erikson_psychosocial_theory.htm McLeod, S. (2008). Developmental Psychology: Erik Erikson. SimplyPsychology.1-5. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html Bibliographies Chapman, A. (2006). Erikson 's psychosocial development theory: Erik Erikson 's psychosocial crisis life cycle model - The eight stages of human development. Businessballs. 1-27. Retrieved from http://www.businessballs.com/erik_erikson_psychosocial_theory.htm Clifton, A., & Davis, D. (1995). Psychosocial Theory: Erikson. Retrieved from http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/erikson.stages.html McLeod, S. (2008). Developmental Psychology: Erik Erikson. SimplyPsychology.1-5. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html Nursing Theories. (2012). Theory of Psychosocial Development: Erik H. Erikson. Nursing theories: A companion to nursing theories and models. Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/theory_of_psychosocial_development.html The New York Times. (1994). Obituaries: Erik Erikson, 91, Psychoanalyst Who Reshaped Views of Human Growth, Dies. The New York Times.1-5. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/13/obituaries/erik-erikson-91-psychoanalyst-who-reshaped-views-of-human-growth-dies.html?pagewanted=all# |