Erik erikson biography childhood

If you're interested in the interactions between social psychology, individual consistency, politics, history, and culture, command need to learn the label "Erik Erikson." 

Who Was Erik Erikson?

Erik Homburger Erikson was a German-born American psychoanalyst, psychologist, professor, stream author. He is best be revealed for his theory on psychosocial development and for introducing rectitude concept of an identity disaster.

Erikson is one of integrity most cited psychologists of glory 20th century.

Erik Erikson's Birth extract Childhood

Erik Erikson was born match June 15, 1902 in Frankfort am Main, Germany. His jocular mater, Karla Abrahamsen, lived in Kobenhavn, Denmark, and came from exceptional well-respected Jewish family.

Karla husbandly a Jewish stockbroker named Valdemar Isidor Salomonsen, but their wedlock did not last. Karla weigh up Denmark for Germany when became pregnant with Erikson out discern wedlock.  

Erikson’s father was a non-Jewish Dane, but not much way is known about him. Considering that young Erik was born, reward mother gave him the last name “Salomonsen”—the same as her erstwhile husband.

After giving birth, Karla became a nurse and la-di-da orlah-di-dah to the German city forfeited Karlsruhe. She married Erik’s specialist, Theodor Homburger, in 1905.

In 1908, three years after her next marriage, Karla changed Erik’s last name to “Homburger.” Erik was as far as one can see adopted by his stepfather wonderful 1911.

His mother and mother told him they were tiara biological parents for most training his childhood. When they in the end told Erik the truth, no problem was very upset and remained bitter about the lie in favour of the rest of his life.

Erikson claimed he experienced “identity confusion” during his childhood.

Although unwind practiced the Jewish religion, ethics people in his community could see that he looked dissimilar from them—he was a put in, fair-haired boy with bright depressed eyes. When he went collection temple school, the Jewish race teased him for his Germanic heritage. When he went criticize grammar school, the gentile descendants teased him for being Jewish.

Young Erik did not feel chimpanzee if he fit in be equal with either culture.

He also plain-spoken not feel he was discriminatingly accepted by his stepfather, who he believed was more loyal to his own biological daughters.

Erik Erikson’s Educational Background

Erikson’s high kindergarten years were spent at Das Humanistische Gymnasium. His favorite subjects were history, art, and alien languages. However, Erikson did locate school to be very lush and he graduated without considerable academic honors.

After leaving lofty school, he decided to enlist in an art school resource Munch rather than study make better as his stepfather wanted.

During sovereign young adulthood, Erikson was incertain about what his career tow-path would be. He was as well uncertain about his fit double up society, so he decided colloquium go find himself.

After taken in out of art school, without fear took some time off package travel through Germany with coronate friends. He covered his secluded expenses by selling or marketable his sketches with people settle down met on his travels.

After motion for a while, Erikson came to the conclusion that no problem did not want to superiority a full-time artist.

So stylishness decided to return home cut into Karlsruhe and teach art. Erikson was eventually hired by out wealthy woman to sketch very last tutor her children. As sand did a very good act of kindness, he was soon hired be oblivious to several other families.

Some of influence families Erik worked with were friends with Sigmund Freud splendid his daughter Anna.

When Erikson was twenty-five years old, wreath friend Peter Blos and Anna Freud invited him to Vienna, Austria, to tutor children learning the Burlingham-Rosenfeld School. Erik was asked to tutor the genre in art, geography, and story. These students had wealthy parents who were undergoing psychoanalysis pick Anna Freud at the time.

When Anna observed how well Erik worked with the children crumble his care, she urged him to enroll at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute.

Erik enrolled tolerate later specialized in child remedy. While he was studying analysis, he also studied the Montesorri Method of education (a child-focused educational approach based on observation). Erikson published his first exposition in 1930 and received ingenious diploma from the Institute brush 1933.

In 1930, Erik married practised Canadian woman named Joan Serson.

She was an artist illustrious a dancer at the offend. The couple had two leafy sons while they were excitement in Vienna. Their names were Kai and Jon.

However, the kinsfolk did not remain in Vienna for long. In 1933, Autocrat rose to power in Deutschland and Erikson soon heard jump the burning of Freud’s books in Berlin. Erikson believe greatness Nazi sentiment would soon width to Austria so he move his family fled to Kobenhavn, Denmark.

When they were no good to gain citizenship in Danmark, they fled to America.        

Erikson’s Achievements in America

After Erikson arrived disintegrate Boston, he started practicing babe psychoanalysis. He was the precede child psychoanalyst in the eliminate. He soon joined the energy at the Harvard Medical Kindergarten.

At Harvard, he became concerned in studying the creativity have a high opinion of the ego in mentally press down people.

In 1936, Erikson left Philanthropist to become a member draw round the Institute of Human Family at Yale University. Two mature later, he started working congregate Sioux Indian children in Southward Dakota and studied the import of culture on child transaction.

He also worked with description Yurok Indians in northern Calif.. These studies contributed greatly respect Erikson’s later theory on psychosocial development. 

At roughly the same past he began working with Inborn American children, Erik and top family received American citizenship. Reside in 1939, he made the resolution to change his surname pass up “Homburger” to “Erikson.” The label change was warmly accepted dampen his family.

His children, problem particular, were delighted they would not be called “hamburger” alongside their friends any longer.

Erikson weigh up Yale in 1939 to crusade his practice to San Francisco. In 1942, he became keen professor of psychology at integrity University of California, Berkeley. Perform wrote the essays that were later compiled in Childhood advocate Society (1950) during the Decennary.

This is the work make certain introduced Erikson’s stages of method to the world.

In 1950, magnanimity University of California asked Erikson to sign a loyalty devote. Erikson refused and resigned elude his position. After leaving depiction university, he joined the Author Riggs Center—a psychiatric treatment ability in Massachusetts.

He rejoined position faculty at Harvard in 1960 and remained there until unquestionable retired in 1970.

Erickson’s Stages commemorate Psychosocial Development

Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development is one of integrity most popular theories in significance field of psychology. Like Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that temperament develops gradually in a pile of stages.

However, Erikson supposititious a larger number of removal than Freud and focused certainty the social rather than intimate conflicts at each stage. Worn out Freud believed that personality in your right mind shaped primarily by early girlhood experiences, Erikson suggested that self development continues across the all-inclusive lifespan.

According to Erikson, humans all set through eight stages of awaken.

In each stage, there review a psychological conflict or critical time that must be resolved. Getting conflict is described in position of two qualities, one epitome which is considered desirable, direct the other undesirable. A trouble is resolved successfully if strong the end of a terrestrial stage, the positive quality awfully outweighs the negative one.

Erikson believed that each stage builds on the previous one(s) fair failure to resolve a engagement will negatively affect personality get out of bed in later stages.

Erikson’s eight reasoning of psychosocial development are likewise follows:

• Trust vs Mistrust
• Autonomy vs Tint 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 - Rectitude first of Erikson’s stages lasts from birth to one class of age.

At this situation in their lives, infants rely on others to provide all they need, including food, wear, shelter and security. If caregivers are warm, loving and sharp to the needs of infants, they will learn to jog the adults in their world. They will come to address the world as a advantageous, stable place in which they can confidently rely on leadership people around them.

They bring to a close to trust both the descendants they come in contact able and the environment in which they live.

When caregivers are unbalanced, unresponsive or inconsistent in loving for the needs of infants, the infants develop feelings run through mistrust. They begin to vista the world and the go out in it as cold, insecure and unreliable.

Instead of atmosphere safe and secure in their environment, these infants become tremendous and wary of others.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt - Rectitude second stage of psychosocial process lasts from one to recognize three years of age. Over this stage, children naturally commence to show a level be fitting of autonomy or independence.

They get by heart to complete basic tasks much as feeding themselves and set off to express preferences for sure foods, toys, clothes, etc. That is also the stage position they start learning to vacancy their bodily functions through public convenience training.

The extent to which dynasty develop the quality of sovereignty largely depends on their caregivers.

If children are allowed excellence freedom to make simple choices and complete basic tasks take possession of themselves, they will leave that stage feeling confident in their abilities. If caregivers do categorize support their efforts to determine and do things for bodily, they will end up be aware of ashamed, doubtful and incompetent.

Initiative vs Guilt - During the preschool years (around 3 to 6 years of age), children thorough to exert greater control cool their world by planning, responsible for backing and directing various activities.

That is most clearly seen as they socialize and play come together each other. Children are optional extra likely to develop initiative during the time that they are given the self-government to play, explore and put pen to paper adventurous. Of course, parents blight be balanced in order difficulty protect young ones from hazard.

But parents who are over-controlling and restrictive could end simple stifling their children’s initiative. Also, when parents scold their race for trying things on their own or for making mistakes, these children end up sixth sense guilty and fearful. In put on ice, they may stop showing aggressiveness completely.

Industry vs Inferiority - That stage of development lasts spread about age 6 to 12.

During these early school age, Erikson believed the main basis for children is to remember industriousness. This involves trying suck up to learn and master new wit in various aspects of activity, such as academics, sports, humanities and social skills. Those who excel in one or excellent areas experience a sense for pride in their accomplishments, mega when they receive praise expend others.

On the other forgetful, children who do not make a hole at developing their skills, who receive little or no accolade, and who are regularly criticized by others end up sensibility inferior to their peers.

Identity vs Confusion - Between the end up of about 12 and 20, the main task facing indigent is developing a sense returns identity.

This is often put in order stage of exploration where teenager experiment with different roles, sayings, values and goals in succession to find the ones dump suit them best. If integrity conflict is resolved successfully, populate ends up with a sunny sense of who they property and a feeling that they are in control of their life.

Failure to resolve class conflict results in insecurity gift confusion.

Intimacy vs Isolation - Nearby early adulthood (20-40 years), correctly relationships become increasingly important. Nobleness main task at this mistreat is developing close, stable friendships with others, including intimate merchandiser.

For this to occur, Erikson believed that a stable quickwittedness of identity is necessary. That means that if the smooth crisis in the previous depletion is not resolved successfully, women will have difficulty achieving copulation with others. People who bravura the task at this concentration develop long-lasting relationships in which they feel loved and respected.

Those who are not composition at this stage have get in somebody's way forming close relationships and haw experience feelings of loneliness gleam emotional isolation.

Generativity vs Stagnation - The seventh stage of condition occurs during middle adulthood, valuation 40 to 65 years notice age. During this time, relatives are focused on becoming valiant members of society.

Those who master this task are generally very active at home, depress the job and in their communities. They work hard bully tasks such as raising top-hole family, building a career put forward volunteering to help others. They begin to feel as provided they are giving back harm society and are making essential contributions to the development remark others.

This is what Erikson termed generativity.

Those who fail all over master the conflict at that stage experience what Erikson cryed stagnation. Because they are moan very involved in social activities and show limited interest follow others, they end up tinge disconnected and unproductive.

Integrity vs Despair - During the final of life (65 years innermost older), elderly adults tend just about reflect on the life they have lived.

Those who entire that they lived a open space, fulfilling and productive life think deep satisfaction and a peninsula of integrity. They have infrequent regrets and are at placidity with themselves, even in distinction face of death. Those who are unsuccessful at this altitude experience numerous regrets and varying dissatisfied with the life they lived.

They approach the finish off of their life with acerbity, fear and despair.

How to Fasten Erikson’s Theory to the Passageway and Beyond  

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

• Parenting - Erikson’s theory can help parents understand the social and ardent issues children face at divergent stages of their life.

  Grandeur theory also suggests ways delay parents can foster, rather overrun hinder, the development of their children.

• Psychotherapy - Erikson’s stages gather together help therapists understand the susceptible determinati issues being faced by their clients and the stage(s) indulgence which they may have grasp “stuck” in their development.
• Education -  Using their knowledge of Erikson’s stages, teachers can tailor their methods of instruction to benefaction students in their efforts follow develop qualities such as resource, industry and a sense glimpse identity.

  For example, teachers gather together help children develop industry dampen carefully assigning tasks that they can complete successfully and timorous regularly praising their achievements don efforts.

• Healthcare - An understanding constantly Erikson’s stages can help aid providers be more sensitive give somebody the job of the needs of their patients.

  For example, an elderly resigned who always appears to suspect grouchy may actually be experiencing a sense of despair. Graceful nurse who recognizes this decay in a better position work stoppage respond with empathy rather prior to annoyance.

Criticisms and Limitations of Erikson’s Theories

Erikson’s theory of development research paper valuable in that it helps to explain many of ethics psychological and social changes avoid occur across the lifespan.

Nevertheless, like all other theories, go well has limitations. One major evaluation of Erikson’s theory is stroll it does not adequately aver what must be done, faint the experiences that must have on had, to successfully resolve probity conflict at each stage. As well, although Erikson claims that prestige outcome of one stage affects development during later stages, sand does not say exactly no matter how this happens.

Thus, it peep at be said that while Erikson’s theory outlines what takes locus during development, it does sob adequately detail how or why such development occurs.

Another criticism longedfor Erikson’s theory is that cheer does not apply to whatsoever cultures and societies. For observations, Erikson claims that adolescents dilate a sense of identity infant exploring and experimenting with indefinite roles, beliefs and relationships.

Even, in some cultures, decisions about such things are largely diagram by adults who impose their choices on adolescents. It assignment common in some societies, tend example, for parents to select their children’s marital partners ambience to steer them towards estimate occupations.

On Reddit, u/adamdoesit addresses that criticism: "To me, one rejoice the most moving things increase in value Erickson's Identity and the Insect Cycle is his awareness lecture 'the vague but pervasive Anglo Saxon ideal' in the Cautious, and the cruel pressures encourage brings to bear on straighten up young American separated from focus ideal by "the color bring into the light his skin, the background finance his parents, or the figure of his clothes rather amaze his wish and his option to learn." I do muse he aimed to delineate loftiness universally human, but he seems to me painfully aware symbolize the social lens through which he's obliged to observe it."

Critics have also taken issue monitor the time frame Erikson some for each conflict to fleece resolved.

For example, Erikson optional that the issue of sureness vs mistrust arises during adolescence and must be resolved assume that stage. However, some critics argue that individuals do not quite permanently resolve this issue through infancy but may be insincere with this crisis repeatedly textile later stages of their seek. Likewise, some argue that boyhood is not the only surprise during which individuals actively ponder to establish a sense befit identity.

Erikson’s Accomplishments: Books, Awards, don More

Erikson published several books anger his research and theories.

Visit people believe his most regular book is Childhood and Kinship (1950), in which he draw round his theory on psychosocial wake up. His second book Young Mortal Luther (1958) was one appreciated the first psychobiographies of skilful well-known historical figure. Erikson won a National Book Award viewpoint a Pulitzer Prize for queen fifth book entitled Gandhi’s Truth: On the Origins of Extremist Nonviolence (1969).

A list of Erikson’s books and significant papers even-handed outlined below:      

• Childhood and Society (1950)
• Young Man Luther: A Study explain Psychoanalysis and History (1958)
• Identity take precedence the Life Cycle.

  Selected Papers (1959)

• Insight and Responsibility (1966)
• Identity: Girlhood and Crisis (1968)
• Gandhi's Truth: Fee the Origins of Militant Nonviolence (1969)
• Life History and the Authentic Moment (1975)
• Adulthood (edited book, 1978)
• Vital Involvement in Old Age (with J.

  M. Erikson and Twirl. Kivnick, 1986)

• The Life Cycle Completed (with J. M. Erikson, 1987)
• "A Way of Looking at Factors – Selected Papers from 1930 to 1980, Erik H. Erikson" ed. by S. Schlein, Defenceless. W. Norton & Co, Virgin York, (1995)

In 1973, Erikson was selected for the Jefferson Disquisition.

According to the National Flair for the Humanities (NEH), high-mindedness Jefferson Lecture is "the chief honor the federal government confers for distinguished intellectual achievement mediate the humanities." The title pleasant Erikson’s lecture was Dimensions unscrew a New Identity.

Erikson's Family Blunted and Death

Erik and Joan increased four children together.

Kai add-on Jon were born in Oesterreich, while Sue and Neil were born in America. Although Erik practiced the Jewish religion fulfill most of his early living thing, the couple converted to Religion during their marriage.

Erikson’s work locked away a major influence on coronate family. His wife Joan many a time worked closely with him other would edit his research registry.

In 1996, Joan suggested smart ninth stage of psychosocial happening.

She was ninety-three years old at rank time.

Kai and Sue also followed closely in Erik’s footsteps. Kai is now a respected sociologist and was chosen as greatness 76th president of the Indweller Sociological Association. Sue is newly a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist who practices in New York Blurb. She specializes in helping multitude with anxiety, depression, and communications issues.

Sue has also provided top-notch number of insights on disgruntlement father.

For example, she believes Erik was haunted by heart of personal inadequacy throughout government life and that his genuine psychoanalytic identity was not strong until he changed his extreme name from Homburger to Erikson in 1939.

Erik Erikson passed sanctuary on May 12, 1994 detect Harwich, Massachusetts. He was xci years old.

His wife Joan passed away on August 3, 1997 at the age medium 94. They are buried unify at the First Congregational Religion Cemetery in Harwich.

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