Erikson 1902 1994 Biography Born in Frankfurt Germany

Erikson 1902 - 1994

Biography • Born in Frankfurt, Germany, June 15, 1902 • Father believed to be Danish • Mother was Lutheran – Remarried when he was approx 3 to his pediatrician – Eric took last name of Homburger

Biography • Tall, blond haired and blue eyed • Referred to as “goy” (gentile) at his father’s temple while at school was referred to as a Jew • Entertained fantasies of being son of “much better parents” who abandoned him.

Biography • Entered art school against father’s wishes • A time of identity crisis for him • In 1927, invited to Vienna to work in a small school as an artist and tutor. • Met Freud and his daughter Anna – Accepted in Freud’s circle not based on degree but based on his brilliance and insightfulness • Met his wife in 1929 • Moved to U. S. in 1933

Biography • Worked with children. • Later taught at Yale, University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard. – Never obtained a degree himself • Changed name to Erikson when he became an American citizen • Avid writer, many works centering on influence of culture on personality and analysis of historical figures • Died in 1994

Theory • Believed development was based not just on sexual drives but on social interactions – Biology determines when the stages occur • Also that development occurred throughout the lifespan – First five stages are expansions of Freud’s

Theory • Three interrelated aspects of the ego ; – Body ego • Understanding and acceptance of our body – Ego ideal • Image we have of ourselves and our personalities – Ego identity • Image of ourselves in the social roles we play

Theory Foundations • • • Stages build on one another – Based on epigenetic principle Each stage consists of a crisis – Conflict between a syntonic (harmonious) and dystonic (disruptive) element Each crisis can be resolved positively or negatively – Positive strengthens ego – Negative weakens ego

Theory Foundations • Resolution of stage influences how following stages are resolved • Healthy resolution involves more positive than negative but includes both • Can revisit stages throughout life based on circumstances with different results – Negative resolution needs revisiting

Theory Foundations • Each stage includes personal and social ramifications: – Personal: • A virtue (a basic ego strength) is gained if resolved more positively • A core pathology (opposite of a virtue) is acquired if resolved more negatively – Social • Ritualization – Patterns of behavior that reflect the beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors accepted by a society that serve to make life meaningful • Ritualism – Inappropriate or false ritualizations that cause social pathology

Trust vs. Mistrust • Virtue: Hope (Faith) • Core pathology: Withdrawal • Ritualization of the Numinous – Typical childrearing practices of mothers • Ritualism of Idolism – Excessive admiration and idealization of mother

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt • Virtue: Will (Determination) • Core Pathology: Compulsion • Ritualization of Judiciousness – Learn difference in right and wrong, what is acceptable and unacceptable • Ritualism of Legalism – Inflexible letter of the law attitude

Initiative vs. Guilt • Virtue: Purpose (Courage) • Core Pathology: Inhibition • Ritualization of Authenticity – Trying on of roles to see what is possible or not, what fits and does not • Ritualism of Impersonation – Becoming the role played instead of who one is

Industry vs. Inferiority • Virtue: Competence • Core Pathology: Inertia (regression) • Ritualization of Formality – Learning appropriate ways of doing tasks • Ritualism of Formalism – Over concern for technique rather than purpose

Identity vs. Role Confusion • • Virtue: Fidelity (Faith in one’s ideology) Core Pathology: Role repudiation (blocks ability to synthesize image) – Difffidence: lack of self trust or confidence resulting in shyness or hesitancy to express oneself – Defiance: rebellion against authority Ritualization of Ideology – Synthesizes all the previous identities of the previous stages – Gives direction to life Ritualism of Totalism – Over identification with and adoption of another's ideology – Blind submission

Identity Statuses • Marcia’s 4 Identity Statuses – Based on crisis (conscious decision making) and commitment (personal commitment) • Diffusion: confusion and little progress (no crisis or commitment) • Foreclosure: status determined by parents / others, not personal exploration (commitment w/o crisis) • Moratorium: Exploring alternatives but not settled on one (crisis w/o commitment) • Achievement: Deliberately chosen identity (crisis w/ commitment)

Intimacy vs. Isolation • Virtue: Love (Loyalty) • Core Pathology: Exclusivity • Ritualization of Affiliation – Productive affiliation with others in work, friendship and love – Based on successful achievement of identity • Ritualism of Elitism – Connect only with a small exclusive group

Generativity vs. Stagnation • Virtue: Care • Core Pathology: Rejectivity • Ritualization of Generationalism – Transmit cultural values to younger generation • Ritualism of Authoritism – Use of power for selfish purpose

Integrity vs. Despair • • Virtue: Wisdom (“informed and detached concern with life itself in the face of death itself”) Core Pathology: Disdain (“a reaction to feeling (and seeing others) in an increasing state of being finished, confused, helpless”) Ritualization of Integralism – Integration of all other ritualizations – Know culture will survive Ritualism of Sapientism – “The unwise pretense of being wise”