Erik Erikson
By Dermot McElhennon
Introduction
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Biographical Information
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Early Childhood
–
Transition to Psychology
Major Works by Erikson
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Works on Identity
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Psychosocial Stages
Early Childhood
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Born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1902
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Danish Parents
Result of an “extramarital union”
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Guarded from Erickson
Never met his biological father or mother's first
husband
Early Childhood Continued
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Erickson's Mother Remarried
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Dr. Theodor Homberger
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Erickson was told this was his father
Revelation of the Truth
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Sparked confusion in young Erickson's life
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Contributed to his later works
Early Schooling for Erickson
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Early Schooling was at the Temple
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Strict, Jewish family and schooling
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Teased by the other children for his appearance
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Nordic (tall, blonde, blue eyes)
Experience at Grammar School
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Teased for his Jewish upbringing
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Rejected by his schoolmates
Erickson's College Years
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Wasn't a Firm Believer in the Education System
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Travelled around Europe for one year
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Maintained a diary
Returned to Germany to Enroll in an Art
Program
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New found passion
Acquired a Position Teaching Art in Vienna
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Children's parents were under Freudian
Training
Key time in Erickson's life
Early Years of Career
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Began to Establish his Identity
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Changed name from Homberger to Erickson
Admitted into Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute
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Worked closely with Anna Freud
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Introduced to Sigmund Freud
Immigration to the United States
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Immigrated to Boston in 1933
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First Child Psychoanalyst
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Acquired Position at Harvard
Numerous Institutions in the United States
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Yale, UC Berkeley, Menninger Institute
Wide Focus on his Works
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Changes in the United States
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Children of Native American Tribes
Major Psychological Works
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Slowly Introduced to Psychology
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Star Wars
Expert on the Human Personality
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Erickson's Psychosocial Stages
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Considered by many to be his most influential
Erickson's Stages of Development
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Eight Stages of Development
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Infancy to Eventual Death
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Stages of Life
Influenced by Freud
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Psychosexual Development Stages
Stage 1: Infancy
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Occurs During Infancy
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Trust vs. Mistrust
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Birth to 18 months
Who can I trust?
Important Event During This Period
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Feeding
Stage 2: Early Childhood
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Two to Three Years Old
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Autonomy vs. Fear and Doubt
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Sense of Personal Control
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Independence
Important Event During This Time
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Infamous “Potty Training”
Stage 3: Preschool Years
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Three to Five Years Old
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Initiative vs. Guilt
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Assertion of control over their environment
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Sense of Purpose
Important Event During This Time
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Exploration
Stage 4: School Age
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6-11 Years Old
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Industry vs. Inferiority
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Coping of new social and academic demands
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Feeling of belonging vs. inferiority
Important Events During This Time
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School
Stage 5: Adolescence
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12 to 18 Years Old
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Identity vs. Role Confusion
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Development of personal identity
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“Staying true to one's self”
Important Events During This Time
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Development of stronger social relationships
Stage 6: Young Adulthood
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19 Until 40 Years Old
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Intimacy vs. Isolation
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Intimate, Deeper Relationships
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Spouses
Important Events During This Time
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Development of stronger personal relationships
Stage 7: Middle Adulthood
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40 Until 65 Years Old
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Generativity vs. Stagnation
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Development of things that will outlast them
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Raising Children
Developing a legacy
Benefits of others
Important Events During This Time
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Work and Parenthood
Stage 8: Maturity
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65 Until Death of the Individual
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Ego Integrity vs. Despair
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Recap of an individual's life
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Sense of fulfillment or despair
Important Events During This Time
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Reflection on Life
Closing Thoughts
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Erickson's Major Works
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Benefitted from personal experiences
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Identity Confusion
Life-long Goal of Erickson
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Establish Stages of Identity
Field Any Questions?