Erik Erikson: Post Freudian Theory Flashcards
this theory extended Freud’s infantile developmental
stages into adolescence, adulthood, and old age (Erikson)
post-Freudian theory
a turning point in one’s life that may either strengthen or weaken personality (Erikson)
identity crisis
Erik Erikson’s birthday and birthplace
June 15, 1902
Southern Germany
is a positive force that creates a self-identity, a sense of “I.”
As the center of our personality, our _______helps us adapt to the various conflicts and crises of life and keeps us from losing our individuality to the
leveling forces of society (Erikson)
ego
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 (Erikson)
ego ideal
is the image we have of ourselves in the variety of social roles we play (Erikson)
ego identity
an illusion perpetrated and perpetuated by a particular society that it is somehow chosen to be the human species (Erikson)
pseudospecies
implies a step-by-step growth of fetal organs.
The embryo does not begin as a completely formed little person, waiting to merely expand its structure and form. Rather, it develops, or should develop, according to a predetermined rate and in a fixed sequence. If the eyes, liver, or other organs do not develop during that critical period for their development, then they will never attain proper maturity. (Erikson)
epigenetic principle/development
what is the term for the elements present in an interaction of opposites? (Erikson)
syntomic (harmonious) and dystonic (disruptive)
what is erikson’s term for a conflict between a syntonic (harmonious) element and a dystonic (disruptive) element. (Erikson)
interaction of opposites
the conflict between the dystonic and syntonic elements
produces an ego quality or ego strength, which Erikson referred to as a _________
basic strength
a period encompassing approximately the
first year of life and paralleling Freud’s oral phase of development (Erikson)
infancy
a phrase that includes infants’ principal psychosexual mode of adapting (Erikson)
oral-sensory
what are the two characteristics of the oral-sensory stage (Erikson)
receiving and accepting what is given
a period paralleling Freud’s anal stage and encompassing approximately the 2nd and 3rd years of life. (Erikson)
early childhood
During the 2nd year of life, children’s primary psychosexual adjustment is the _____________ mode (Erikson)
anal urethral-muscular
what does autonomy grow out of?(Erikson)
basic trust
is a feeling of self-consciousness, of being looked at and exposed (Erikson)
shame
is the feeling of not being certain, the feeling that something remains hidden and cannot be seen (Erikson)
doubt
what does shame and doubt grow out of? (Erikson)
basic mistrust
what basic strength comes from autonomy vs shame and doubt
will/willfulness
a period covering the same time
as Freud’s phallic phase—roughly ages 3 to 5 years (erikson)
third stage of development (Erikson)
play age
what is the primary psychosexual mode during the play age (Erikson)
genital-locomotor
Erikson saw this as a prototype “of the lifelong power of human
playfulness
oedipal situation
what psychosocial crisis is present in the play age? (Erikson)
initiative vs guilt
what basic strength is produced from initiative vs guilt? (Erikson)
purpose
Erikson’s concept of ____ covers development from about age 6 to approximately age 12 or 13 and matches the latency years of Freud’s theory
school age
what is the psychosocial crisis of the school age? (Erikson)
industry vs inferiority
what basic strength comes from industry vs inferiority? (Erikson)
competence
(Erikson) the antithesis of competence and the core pathology of the
school age
Example: They may become preoccupied with infantile genital and Oedipal fantasies and spend most of their time in nonproductive play. This regression is called
inertia
________, is the period from puberty to young adulthood, is one of the most crucial developmental stages because, by the end of this period, a person must gain a
firm sense of ego identity (Erikson)
Adolescence
what basic strength comes from identity vs identity confusion? (Erikson)
fidelity
what psychosocial crisis is present in adolescence? (Erikson)
identity vs identity confusion
(Erikson) defined as genital maturation, plays a relatively minor role in Erikson’s concept of adolescence
it triggers expectations of adult roles yet ahead—roles that are essentially social and can be
filled only through a struggle to attain ego identity
puberty
According to Erikson (1982), identity emerges from two sources:
- adolescents’ affirmation or repudiation of childhood identifications
- their historical and social contexts, which encourage conformity to certain standards
a dilemma that may intensify an adolescent’s identity confusion (Erikson)
They must either repudiate (refuse) the values of parents or reject those of the peer group
is a syndrome of problems that includes a divided self image, an inability to establish intimacy, a sense of time urgency, a lack of concentration on required tasks, and a rejection of family or community standards (Erikson)
identity confusion
the core pathology of adolescence that blocks one’s ability to synthesize various self-images and values into a workable identity
can take the form of either diffidence or defiance (Erikson)
role repudiation
is an extreme lack of self-trust or self confidence and is expressed as shyness or hesitancy to express oneself (Erikson)
diffidence
is the act of rebelling against authority (Erikson)
defiance
how are defiant adolescents defined? (Erikson)
stubbornly hold to socially unacceptable beliefs and practices simply because these beliefs and practices are unacceptable
a time from about age 19 to 30 is circumscribed not so much by time as by the acquisition of intimacy at the beginning
of the stage and the development of generativity at the end. For some people, this stage is a relatively short time, lasting perhaps only a few years (Erikson)
young adulthood
what psychosocial crisis is present in young adulthood? (Erikson)
intimacy vs isolation
what basic strength comes from the psychosocial crisis of intimacy vs isolation? (Erikson)
love
(Erikson) can develop only during young adulthood when it is distinguished by mutual trust and a stable sharing of sexual satisfaction with a loved person
the chief psychosexual accomplishment of young
adulthood and exists only in an intimate relationship
psychosexual mode for young adulthood
true genitality
is the ability to fuse one’s identity with that of another person without fear of losing it (Erikson)
intimacy
means an ability and willingness to share a mutual trust
involves sacrifice, compromise, and commitment within a relationship of two equals (Erikson)
mature intimacy
defined as “the incapacity to take chances with one’s identity by sharing true intimacy”
the psychosocial counterpart to intimacy (Erikson)
isolation
what is erikson’s definition of love?
mature devotion that overcomes basic differences between men and women
means commitment, sexual passion, cooperation, competition, and friendship (Erikson)
mature love
the core pathology of young adulthood
antipathy of love
becomes pathological when it blocks one’s ability to cooperate, compete, or compromise—all prerequisite ingredients for intimacy and love (Erikson)
exclusivity
that time when people begin to take their place in society and assume responsibility for whatever society produces
is the longest stage of development (Erikson)
adulthood
what psychosexual mode is present in adulthood? (Erikson)
procreativity
what psychosocial crisis is present in adulthood? (Erikson)
generativity versus stagnation
what basic strength comes from generativity versus stagnation? (Erikson)
care
refers to more than genital contact with an intimate partner
includes assuming responsibility for the care of offspring that result from that sexual contact
psychosexual mode for adulthood (Erikson)
procreativity
defined as “the generation of new beings as well as new products and new ideas”
is concerned with establishing and guiding the next generation, including the procreation of children, the production of work, and the creation of new things and ideas that contribute to the building of a better world
grows out of earlier syntonic qualities such as intimacy and identity (Erikson)
generativity
antithesis of generativity (Erikson)
self-absorption and stagnation
The generational cycle of productivity and creativity is crippled when people become too absorbed in themselves, too self-indulgent
how can stagnation and self-absorption be necessary? (Erikson)
Creative people must, at times, remain in a dormant stage and be absorbed with themselves in order to eventually generate new growth
Erikson’s definition of care
a widening commitment to take care of the persons, the products, and the ideas one has learned to care for
care arises from each earlier basic ego strength: (Erikson)
hope,
will,
purpose,
competence,
fidelity,
and love
is not a duty or obligation but a natural desire emerging from the conflict between generativity and stagnation or self-absorption (Erikson)
care
(Erikson) antipathy of care
core pathology of adulthood
is the unwillingness to take care of certain persons or groups
rejectivity
what are the three ways that rejectivity is manifested as? (Erikson)
self-centeredness
provincialism
pseudospeciation
is the belief that other groups of people are inferior to one’s own
is responsible for much of human hatred, destruction, atrocities, and wars (Erikson)
pseudospeciation
Erikson was in his early 40s
when he first conceptualized this stage and arbitrarily defined it as the period from
about age 60 to the end of life
eighth and final stage of development
can be a time of joy, playfulness, and wonder; but it is also a time of senility, depression, and despair
old age
what is the psychosexual mode for old age? (Erikson)
generalized sensuality
what psychosocial crisis is present in old age? (Erikson)
ego integrity vs despair
what basic strength comes from ego integrity vs ego despair? (Erikson)
wisdom
it means to take pleasure in
a variety of different physical sensations—sights, sounds, tastes, odors, embraces, and perhaps genital stimulation
may also include a greater appreciation for the traditional
lifestyle of the opposite sex (Erikson)
generalized sensuality
what does a generalized sensual attitude depend on? (Erikson)
dependent on one’s ability to hold things together, that is, to maintain integrity in the face of despair
is sometimes difficult to maintain when people see that they are losing familiar aspects of their existence (Erikson)
ego integrity
means a feeling of wholeness
and coherence, an ability to hold together one’s sense of “I-ness” despite diminishing physical and intellectual powers (Erikson)
integrity
literally means to be without hope
is in the opposite corner from hope, a person’s first basic strength (Erikson)
despair
how can despair be deemed necessary? (Erikson)
the inevitable struggle between integrity and despair produces wisdom, the basic strength
of old age
informed and detached concern with life itself in the face of death itself
draws from and contributes to the traditional knowledge passed from generation to generation (Erikson)
wisdom
what do people with detached concern exhibit? (Erikson)
an active but dispassionate interest
a reaction to feeling (and seeing others) in an increasing state of being finished, confused, helpless
antithesis of wisdom and the core pathology of old age (Erikson)
disdain
how did erikson describe the ninth stage?
a period of very old age when physical and mental infirmities rob people of their generative abilities and reduce them to waiting
for death
what psychosexual mode is present in school age? (Erikson)
latency
what psychosexual mode is it for adolescence? (Erikson)
puberty
is a controversial field that combines psychoanalytic concepts with historical methods (Erikson)
psychohistory
what is erikson’s definition of psychohistory
the study of individual and collective life with the combined methods of psychoanalysis and history
how did erikson look at Gandhi’s situation of being close to his mother but experiencing conflict with his father
Rather than viewing this situation as an Oedipal conflict, Erikson saw it as Gandhi’s opportunity to work out conflict with authority figures——an opportunity Gandhi was to have many times during his life
what is the epigenetic principle? (Erikson)
meaning that each component proceeds in a step-by-step fashion with later growth
building on earlier development
