Erik Erikson

Description: (Psychoanalyst Best Known for His Theory on Psychological Development of Human Beings)

Erik Homburger Erikson was a German-born American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst who pioneered in the world of child psychology by giving his development theory with his ‘eight psychosocial stages’. He was born in Frankfurt in unusual circumstances in which his mother did not conceive him through her husband but he never got to know who his biological father was. It is said that the history of his birth is something that triggered the need in him to pursue the concept of identity and it is how he gave the world the psychological term ‘identity crisis’, a major contribution to the world of psychology and psychoanalysis. He grew up in Germany and came in contact with the world of psychoanalysis when he met Sigmund Freud’s daughter Anna Freud. He studied psychoanalysis at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute but Nazi invasion of Germany led to his emigration to America. In America, Erikson found a wide scope to practice psychoanalysis on children in Boston and worked at various medical institutes, including the Harvard University and California University. He studied the psychology of children from various social structures, environments, emotional and psychological issues and compiled his observations in the most prominent book of his career, ‘Childhood and Society’.

Overview

Birthday June 15, 1902 (Gemini)
Born In Germany
Alternative names Erik Homburger Erikson
City Frankfurt, Germany
Died on May 12, 1994
Spouse/Ex- Joan Erikson
Parents Waldemar Isidor Salomonsen
Karla Abrahamsen
Children Jon Erikson, Kai T. Erikson, Sue Erikson

Did you know

What are Erik Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development? Erik Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development are Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, and Ego Integrity vs. Despair.
What is the main concept of Erik Erikson's theory? The main concept of Erik Erikson's theory is that personality develops in a series of stages and each stage involves a psychosocial crisis that must be successfully resolved for healthy development.
How did Erik Erikson contribute to psychology? Erik Erikson contributed to psychology by introducing the concept of psychosocial development and the notion that individuals go through stages of development throughout their lives, each with its own unique challenges and opportunities for growth.
What is Erik Erikson's view on identity development? Erik Erikson believed that identity development is a crucial stage in an individual's life, typically occurring during adolescence, where individuals explore and establish their sense of self and purpose.
How does Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development differ from Freud's psychosexual theory? Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development differs from Freud's psychosexual theory by focusing on social and emotional development across the lifespan, whereas Freud's theory primarily emphasizes the role of early childhood experiences and sexual instincts in shaping personality.
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