Erik Erikson-Identity Theory PDF

Preview

Summary

Importance of Identity Theory...

Description

ERIK ERIKSON- Post-Freudian Theory/ Identity Theory



 

His post-Freudian theory extended Freud’s infantile developmental stages into adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Erikson suggested that at each stage a specific psychosocial struggle contributes to the formation of personality. From adolescence on, that struggle takes the form of an identity crisis—a turning point in one’s life that may either strengthen or weaken personality. Although he used Freudian theory as the foundation for his life-cycle approach to personality, Erikson differed from Freud in several respects. In addition to elaborating on psychosexual stages beyond child-hood, Erikson placed more emphasis on both social and historical influences.

The Ego in Post-Freudian Theory    

Erikson held that our ego is a positive force that creates a self-identity, a sense of “I.” As the center of our personality, our ego helps us adapt to the various conflicts and crises of life and keeps us from losing our individuality to the leveling forces of society. During childhood, the ego is weak, pliable, and fragile; but by adolescence it should begin to take form and gain strength. Erikson saw the ego as a partially unconscious organizing agency that synthesizes our present experiences with past self-identities and also with anticipated images of self. He defined the ego as a person’s ability to unify experiences and actions in an adaptive manner.

Three interrelated aspects of ego  



Body ego refers to experiences with our body; a way of seeing our physical self as different for other people. Ego ideal represents the image we have of ourselves in comparison with an established ideal; it is responsible for our being satisfied or dissatisfied not only with our physical self but with our entire personal identity. Ego identity is the image we have of ourselves in the variety of social roles we play.

Society’s Influence   

The ego emerges from and is largely shaped by society. To Erikson, the ego exists as potential at birth, but it must emerge from within a cultural environment. Pseudospecies: that is, an illusion perpetrated and perpetuated by a particular society that it is somehow chosen to be the human species.

Epigenetic Principle Erikson believed that the ego develops throughout the various stages of life according to an epigenetic principle, a term borrowed from embryology.

 

Epigenetic development implies a step-by-step growth of fetal organs. The ego follows the path of epigenetic development, with each stage developing at its proper time. One stage emerges from and is built upon a previous stage, but it does not replace that earlier stage.



Epigenesis means that one characteristic develops on top of another in space and time.

Stages of Psychosocial Development Comprehension of Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development requires an understanding of several basic points. 1. Growth takes place according to the epigenetic principle. 2. In every stage of life there is an interaction of opposites—that is, a conflict between a syntonic (harmonious) element and a dystonic (disruptive) element. For example, during infancy basic trust (a syntonic tendency) is opposed to basic mistrust (a dystonic tendency). 3. The conflict between the dystonic and syntonic elements produces an ego quality or ego strength, which Erikson referred to as a basic strength. 4. Too little basic strength at any one stage results in a core pathology for that stage. 5. Erikson referred to his eight stages as psychosocial stages, he never lost sight of the biological aspect of human development. 6. Events in earlier stages do not cause later personality development. Ego identity is shaped by a multiplicity of conflicts and events—past, present, and anticipated. 7. During each stage, but especially from adolescence forward, personality development is characterized by an identity crisis. Psychosocial Development

historical methods....