Of course, not every individual resolves all of these conflicts successfully. "Erikson is not explicit but presumably assumes character types comprised of combinations of the sets of traits related to the eight stages of development. Whenever a fixation occurs, it is likely to jeopardize sound development in subsequent stages as well [Erikson said] -- 'failure is cumulative'" ("Erik Homburg Erikson,"2008).
Influences
The era when Erikson developed his theory of development was heavily influenced by the rise of "Ego Psychology," and the belief that the human ego exists from birth -- hence the fear amongst many parents that if they parented poorly, even in terms of the child's first feedings, they could cause psychological damage to their developing offspring's sense of self ("Erik Homburg Erikson," 2008). Erikson also came to his professional maturity during a time when the influence of culture and biology became important in psychology, as biological changes are a part of the external influences upon developing and aging. Science in general, and the ability of science to engineer human existence brought the idea of human conditioning and the ability to study and quantify differences to the cultural forefront. Finally, Erikson's own anthropological experiences with native populaces such as the Sioux nation reinforced his beliefs in the influence of culture on behavior, and his sense that Freud's idea of universal stage of development was not completely accurate ("Erik Homburg Erikson," 2008).
Application to work environments
There are a number of ways in which Erikson's theory could be applicable to a work environment. Firstly, the idea that different life stages have different needs could motivate a company to instate mentoring programs, specifically for young adults to help them establish their professional identity in relationship to an older individual. Creating age 'sharing' social events (like celebrations of veterans, Baby Boomers, and young person's music or culture) could create an interdepartmental community of support and understanding. Supportive services like day care and flexible family leave could enable young and middle-aged adults to navigate the difficult balance between home and work life.
Works Cited
Cramer, Craig, Bernadette Flynn, & Ann LaFave. (1997). "Erik Erikson."
SUNY Cortland. Retrieved 23 Apr 2008 at http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/ERIK/welcome.htmL
Cramer, Craig, Bernadette Flynn, & Ann LaFave. (1997). "Introduction to Stages."
SUNY Cortland. Retrieved 23 Apr 2008 at http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/ERIK/sum.htmL
Erikson, Erik. (1950). Childhood and Society. New York W.W. Norton & Co.
Erikson, Erik. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. New York W.W. Norton & Co.
Erik Homburger Erikson." SUNY Cortland. Retrieved 23 Apr 2008 at http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/ERIK/linksum.HTM
Erik Erikson: The Eight Stages of Development Biography Although not as famous as Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson was no less influential in the development of 20th century psychology. Like Freud, Erikson viewed human beings as developing through a series of 'stages,' but he broke with Freud in terms of his emphasis on social development, versus sexual development. Erikson was the first major theorist to question Freud's emphasis on the Oedipus Complex and
I had to learn that I couldn't be good at everything naturally. I learned that if I wanted to be better at a skill, there were things at which I had to work. Identity v. Role Confusion Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, Identity v. Role Confusion, is one I remember very clearly. As a typical teenager, I struggled to "find myself." There were so many identities out there to choose
Erik Erikson a summary of biographical information about the psychologist Erik Erikson The work of Erik Erikson is like that of Freud it touches upon the individual growth but while Freud analyzed himself, and stated the growth in terms of the very infant, after which he assumed that the mind does not adapt or grow, in the sense of the personality, except ego, though himself an ego psychologist, Erik's works are different
Franz and White (1985) argue that while Erikson's stages are generally sound, they could be made stronger by a discussion of the underlying process of interpersonal attachment. They argue that the tension of intimacy vs. isolation do not adequately account for how males and females form interpersonal attachments. The writers are clear, however, that these shortcomings do not invalidate Erikson's theory. Instead, they are looking for ways in which his theory could
Erik Erikson has emerged as one of the most highly regarded contemporary psychoanalytic theorists and his psychosocial stages of development have attracted attention from many personality researchers who seek to explain personality development across the entire span of a person's life (Crain, 2011). Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development are still taught in college psychology courses, human development courses, and are referred to in developmental research. Nonetheless, there have been
Erikson Development Characters in Development Erik Erikson's theory of development divides psychological/social development into eight stages, identified by specific virtues and certain conflicts. These stages are typically associated with specific ages in physical development, as well, but it is possible to identify certain adults experiencing these various stages, too. This can be easier using characters from television programs, which tend to be more extreme and more two-dimensional. Stage One The first stage in Erikson's
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now