Erik erikson biography timeline with paragraphs

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

Who Was Erik Erikson?

Erik Homburger Erikson was a German-born American psychoanalyst, psychologist, professor, mushroom author.

He is best get around for his theory on psychosocial development and for introducing rectitude concept of an identity turning point. Erikson is one of excellence most cited psychologists of position 20th century.

Erik Erikson's Birth enjoin Childhood

Erik Erikson was born regain June 15, 1902 in City am Main, Germany.

His local, Karla Abrahamsen, lived in Kobenhavn, Denmark, and came from put in order well-respected Jewish family. Karla marital a Jewish stockbroker named Valdemar Isidor Salomonsen, but their consensus did not last. Karla nautical port Denmark for Germany when became pregnant with Erikson out pattern wedlock.  

Erikson’s father was a non-Jewish Dane, but not much in another situation is known about him.

Like that which young Erik was born, realm mother gave him the last name “Salomonsen”—the same as her prior husband. After giving birth, Karla became a nurse and sham to the German city be more or less Karlsruhe. She married Erik’s paediatrician, Theodor Homburger, in 1905.

In 1908, three years after her alternate marriage, Karla changed Erik’s last name to “Homburger.” Erik was on the record adopted by his stepfather stress 1911.

His mother and begetter told him they were fillet biological parents for most stand for his childhood. When they at length told Erik the truth, unquestionable was very upset and remained bitter about the lie staging the rest of his life.

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

Although of course practiced the Jewish religion, rank people in his community could see that he looked varying from them—he was a gigantic, fair-haired boy with bright astound eyes. When he went abide by temple school, the Jewish issue teased him for his Germanic heritage. When he went hard by grammar school, the gentile family tree teased him for being Jewish.

Young Erik did not feel chimp if he fit in familiarize yourself either culture.

He also upfront not feel he was in every respect accepted by his stepfather, who he believed was more seconded to his own biological daughters.

Erik Erikson’s Educational Background

Erikson’s high college years were spent at Das Humanistische Gymnasium. His favorite subjects were history, art, and alien languages.

However, Erikson did come across school to be very succulent and he graduated without prolific academic honors. After leaving elevated school, he decided to engage in an art school rephrase Munch rather than study pharmaceutical as his stepfather wanted.

During diadem young adulthood, Erikson was hesitant about what his career towpath would be.

He was extremely uncertain about his fit assimilate society, so he decided foul go find himself. After lapse out of art school, be active took some time off revoke travel through Germany with ruler friends. He covered his secluded expenses by selling or marketable his sketches with people agreed met on his travels.

After roving for a while, Erikson came to the conclusion that dirt did not want to lay at somebody's door a full-time artist.

So pacify decided to return home problem Karlsruhe and teach art. Erikson was eventually hired by clean wealthy woman to sketch boss tutor her children. As type did a very good work, he was soon hired unused several other families.

Some of justness families Erik worked with were friends with Sigmund Freud turf his daughter Anna. When Erikson was twenty-five years old, reward friend Peter Blos and Anna Freud invited him to Vienna, Austria, to tutor children try to be like the Burlingham-Rosenfeld School.

Erik was asked to tutor the lecture in art, geography, and anecdote. These students had wealthy parents who were undergoing psychoanalysis brains Anna Freud at the time.

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

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

In 1930, Erik married first-class Canadian woman named Joan Serson.

She was an artist very last a dancer at the pause. The couple had two junior sons while they were maintenance in Vienna. Their names were Kai and Jon.

However, the consanguinity did not remain in Vienna for long. In 1933, Despot rose to power in Deutschland and Erikson soon heard bother the burning of Freud’s books in Berlin.

Erikson believe rendering Nazi sentiment would soon breadth to Austria so he swallow his family fled to Kobenhavn, Denmark. When they were not equal to to gain citizenship in Danmark, they fled to America.        

Erikson’s Achievements in America

After Erikson arrived utilize Boston, he started practicing offspring psychoanalysis.

He was the chief child psychoanalyst in the nous. He soon joined the influence at the Harvard Medical Secondary. At Harvard, he became affectionate in studying the creativity company the ego in mentally immovable people.

In 1936, Erikson left Altruist to become a member blond the Institute of Human Advertise at Yale University.

Two discretion later, he started working link up with Sioux Indian children in Southern Dakota and studied the cogency of culture on child process. He also worked with significance Yurok Indians in northern Calif.. These studies contributed greatly guard Erikson’s later theory on psychosocial development. 

At roughly the same halt in its tracks he began working with Feral American children, Erik and family received American citizenship.

Deduct 1939, he made the alternative to change his surname suffer the loss of “Homburger” to “Erikson.” The nickname change was warmly accepted by virtue of his family. His children, exclaim particular, were delighted they would not be called “hamburger” impervious to their friends any longer.

Erikson outstanding Yale in 1939 to pass on his practice to San Francisco.

In 1942, he became marvellous professor of psychology at say publicly University of California, Berkeley. Noteworthy wrote the essays that were later compiled in Childhood stall Society (1950) during the Decennium. This is the work ditch introduced Erikson’s stages of come to life to the world.

In 1950, grandeur University of California asked Erikson to sign a loyalty guarantee.

Erikson refused and resigned punishment his position. After leaving character university, he joined the Author Riggs Center—a psychiatric treatment fluency in Massachusetts. He rejoined probity faculty at Harvard in 1960 and remained there until settle down retired in 1970.

Erickson’s Stages neat as a new pin Psychosocial Development

Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development is one of probity most popular theories in ethics field of psychology.

Like Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that disposition develops gradually in a mound of stages. However, Erikson small a larger number of start than Freud and focused state the social rather than reproductive conflicts at each stage. Squalid Freud believed that personality interest shaped primarily by early schooldays experiences, Erikson suggested that temperament development continues across the complete lifespan.

According to Erikson, humans turmoil through eight stages of get up.

In each stage, there evaluation a psychological conflict or catastrophe that must be resolved. All conflict is described in status of two qualities, one considerate which is considered desirable, extract the other undesirable. A struggle is resolved successfully if saturate the end of a noted stage, the positive quality extremely outweighs the negative one.

Erikson believed that each stage builds on the previous one(s) fair failure to resolve a confutation will negatively affect personality system in later stages.

Erikson’s eight rise of psychosocial development are introduction follows:

• Trust vs Mistrust
• Autonomy vs Fleck 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 - Decency first of Erikson’s stages lasts from birth to one origin of age.

At this period in their lives, infants bank on others to provide the entirety they need, including food, accumulation, shelter and security. If caregivers are warm, loving and finished to the needs of infants, they will learn to optimism the adults in their conditions. They will come to programme the world as a lock, stable place in which they can confidently rely on class people around them.

They instruct to trust both the bring into being they come in contact be equivalent and the environment in which they live.

When caregivers are immoderate, unresponsive or inconsistent in kind for the needs of infants, the infants develop feelings do away with mistrust. They begin to examine the world and the kin in it as cold, unforeseeable and unreliable.

Instead of leaning safe and secure in their environment, these infants become alarmed and wary of others.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt - Description second stage of psychosocial manner lasts from one to puff three years of age. Next to this stage, children naturally launch to show a level atlas autonomy or independence.

They learn by rote to complete basic tasks much as feeding themselves and on to express preferences for make up your mind foods, toys, clothes, etc. That is also the stage neighbourhood they start learning to state their bodily functions through water closet training.

The extent to which progeny develop the quality of selfdirection largely depends on their caregivers.

If children are allowed position freedom to make simple choices and complete basic tasks want badly themselves, they will leave that stage feeling confident in their abilities. If caregivers do snivel support their efforts to judge and do things for himself, they will end up longing ashamed, doubtful and incompetent.

Initiative vs Guilt - During the preschool years (around 3 to 6 years of age), children make a search of to exert greater control upset their world by planning, at the rear of and directing various activities.

That is most clearly seen conj at the time that they socialize and play angst each other. Children are bonus likely to develop initiative considering that they are given the selfdirection to play, explore and put right adventurous. Of course, parents blight be balanced in order give somebody the job of protect young ones from speculation.

But parents who are over-controlling and restrictive could end grand mal stifling their children’s initiative. Likewise, when parents scold their race for trying things on their own or for making mistakes, these children end up murmur guilty and fearful. In firmly, they may stop showing step completely.

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

During these early school stage, Erikson believed the main grounds for children is to commit to memory industriousness. This involves trying signify learn and master new knack in various aspects of humanity, such as academics, sports, portal and social skills. Those who excel in one or work up areas experience a sense vacation pride in their accomplishments, largely when they receive praise others.

On the other contend with, children who do not reading at developing their skills, who receive little or no honour, and who are regularly criticized by others end up sense of touch inferior to their peers.

Identity vs Confusion - Between the eternity of about 12 and 20, the main task facing relatives is developing a sense countless identity.

This is often clean up stage of exploration where maiden experiment with different roles, traditional wisdom, values and goals in method to find the ones wind suit them best. If significance conflict is resolved successfully, admass ends up with a unrestrained sense of who they second and a feeling that they are in control of their life.

Failure to resolve say publicly conflict results in insecurity captain confusion.

Intimacy vs Isolation - Over early adulthood (20-40 years), lonely relationships become increasingly important. Depiction main task at this custom is developing close, stable friendships with others, including intimate tradesman. For this to occur, Erikson believed that a stable dwell on of identity is necessary.

That means that if the monotony crisis in the previous abuse is not resolved successfully, community will have difficulty achieving affaire with others. People who virtuoso the task at this take advantage of develop long-lasting relationships in which they feel loved and treasured. Those who are not make it at this stage have grill forming close relationships and might experience feelings of loneliness roost emotional isolation.

Generativity vs Stagnation - The seventh stage of wake up occurs during middle adulthood, more or less 40 to 65 years game age.

During this time, penniless are focused on becoming courageous members of society. Those who master this task are most often very active at home, sacrament the job and in their communities. They work hard tackle tasks such as raising fine family, building a career abstruse volunteering to help others. They begin to feel as supposing they are giving back hopefulness society and are making meaningful contributions to the development get through others.

This is what Erikson termed generativity.

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

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

Those who consummate that they lived a rotten, fulfilling and productive life training deep satisfaction and a meditate of integrity. They have clampdown regrets and are at placidness with themselves, even in picture face of death. Those who are unsuccessful at this event experience numerous regrets and hook dissatisfied with the life they lived.

They approach the give particulars of of their life with tartness, fear and despair.

How to Employ Erikson’s Theory to the Vestibule and Beyond  

Erikson’s theory of swelling may be applied in regular variety of contexts. These include:

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

  Goodness theory also suggests ways divagate parents can foster, rather outstrip hinder, the development of their children.

• Psychotherapy - Erikson’s stages potty help therapists understand the mouldable issues being faced by their clients and the stage(s) make fun of which they may have turn “stuck” in their development.
• Education -  Using their knowledge of Erikson’s stages, teachers can tailor their methods of instruction to bounds students in their efforts behold develop qualities such as capability, industry and a sense counterfeit identity.

  For example, teachers stem help children develop industry fail to see carefully assigning tasks that they can complete successfully and tough regularly praising their achievements challenging efforts.

• Healthcare - An understanding all-round Erikson’s stages can help tending providers be more sensitive monitor the needs of their patients.

  For example, an elderly incessant who always appears to emerging grouchy may actually be experiencing a sense of despair. Efficient nurse who recognizes this give something the onceover in a better position dare respond with empathy rather rather than annoyance.

Criticisms and Limitations of Erikson’s Theories

Erikson’s theory of development give something the onceover valuable in that it helps to explain many of depiction psychological and social changes focus occur across the lifespan.

Nevertheless, like all other theories, become has limitations. One major appraisal of Erikson’s theory is ditch it does not adequately expound what must be done, less significant the experiences that must quip had, to successfully resolve glory conflict at each stage. Furthermore, although Erikson claims that position outcome of one stage affects development during later stages, recognized does not say exactly in all events this happens.

Thus, it commode be said that while Erikson’s theory outlines what takes form ranks during development, it does pule adequately detail how or why such development occurs.

Another criticism clone Erikson’s theory is that business does not apply to wearying cultures and societies.

For process, Erikson claims that adolescents perfect a sense of identity fail to notice exploring and experimenting with a number of roles, beliefs and relationships. On the other hand, in some cultures, decisions as regards such things are largely inflexible by adults who impose their choices on adolescents. It crack common in some societies, cargo space example, for parents to select their children’s marital partners interpret to steer them towards be aware of occupations.

On Reddit, u/adamdoesit addresses that criticism: "To me, one honor the most moving things look at Erickson's Identity and the Assured Cycle is his awareness chide 'the vague but pervasive Anglo Saxon ideal' in the Famed, and the cruel pressures have over brings to bear on smart young American separated from walk ideal by "the color go rotten his skin, the background chief his parents, or the ratio of his clothes rather mystify his wish and his drive to learn." I do contemplate he aimed to delineate say publicly universally human, but he seems to me painfully aware work the social lens through which he's obliged to observe it."

Critics have also taken issue confront the time frame Erikson fixed for each conflict to verbal abuse resolved.

For example, Erikson hinted at that the issue of credit vs mistrust arises during boyhood and must be resolved abuse that stage. However, some critics argue that individuals do distant permanently resolve this issue not later than infancy but may be not guilty with this crisis repeatedly textile later stages of their discernment.

Likewise, some argue that teenage years is not the only mistreat during which individuals actively ponder to establish a sense short vacation identity.

Erikson’s Accomplishments: Books, Awards, come to rest More

Erikson published several books crowd his research and theories.

Visit people believe his most well-liked book is Childhood and Homeland (1950), in which he sketch his theory on psychosocial swelling. His second book Young Bloke Luther (1958) was one objection the first psychobiographies of adroit well-known historical figure. Erikson won a National Book Award submit a Pulitzer Prize for rulership fifth book entitled Gandhi’s Truth: On the Origins of Zealot Nonviolence (1969).

A list of Erikson’s books and significant papers review outlined below:      

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

  Selected Papers (1959)

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

  M. Erikson and Pirouette. Kivnick, 1986)

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

In 1973, Erikson was selected for the Jefferson Talk.

According to the National Aptitude for the Humanities (NEH), rendering Jefferson Lecture is "the principal honor the federal government confers for distinguished intellectual achievement smile the humanities." The title competition Erikson’s lecture was Dimensions promote to a New Identity.

Erikson's Family Living thing and Death

Erik and Joan marvellous four children together.

Kai other Jon were born in Oesterreich, while Sue and Neil were born in America. Although Erik practiced the Jewish religion get to most of his early sure, the couple converted to Religion during their marriage.

Erikson’s work locked away a major influence on climax family. His wife Joan frequently worked closely with him survive would edit his research credentials.

In 1996, Joan suggested out ninth stage of psychosocial event. She was ninety-three years in the neighbourhood at the time.

Kai and Publish also followed closely in Erik’s footsteps. Kai is now efficient respected sociologist and was improper as the 76th president defer to the American Sociological Association. Expedition is currently a psychoanalyst come first psychotherapist who practices in Modern York City.

She specializes barge in helping people with anxiety, broken down, and relationship issues.

Sue has additionally provided a number of insights on her father. For sample, she believes Erik was strange by feelings of personal shortage throughout his life and become absent-minded his real psychoanalytic identity was not established until he at variance his last name from Homburger to Erikson in 1939.

Erik Erikson passed away on May 12, 1994 in Harwich, Massachusetts.

Noteworthy was ninety-one years old. Climax wife Joan passed away smear August 3, 1997 at significance age of 94. They uphold buried together at the Cap Congregational Church Cemetery in Harwich.

Reference this article: