Erikson (E2)

Question 1

Main beliefs of Erikson

Answer 1

1. Development covers the lifespan
2. Emphasized ego more than Id
3. Introduced impact of culture on individual

Question 2

Beliefs about developmental stages

Answer 2

1.They are universal
2. Culture organizes the experience of its members
3. Cultures provide the setting in which crisis occurs but also the continuing support for ego development

Question 3

What does psychosocial mean?

Answer 3

Refers to the union of Freud’s physical yearnings (id) and cultural forces

Question 4

What is the epigenetic principle?

Answer 4

Describes the process of development
- emerging one on top of another over time

Question 5

What is a crises?

Answer 5

Rise to the surface when the environment makes demands of us
- involves shift in perspective where new strengths can develop
- choose adaptive (lead to “virtues”) or maladaptive solutions

Question 6

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust

Answer 6

Trust: the sense that others are dependable and will provide what is needed (ie. food, milk, etc)
- otherwise mistrust is formed (some mistrust is inevitable)

Question 7

Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt

Answer 7

Child become autonomous is toilet training, ambulation, interpersonal relationships
- Or else shame in Self (some level of shame is normal)

Question 8

Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt

Answer 8

Child begins determining person they are going to be and develops a conscience
- If child is supported and acts appropriately they will have more initiative than guilt

Question 9

Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority

Answer 9

Child learned to win recognition by producing things
- industrious: child perseveres and creates good, quality objects
- inferiority is produced if above is not reached

Question 10

Stage 5: Identity vs Identity Confusion

Answer 10

Working to answer “Who am I”

Identity confusion occurs when a coherent identiy can’t be established

Fidelity: sustaining loyalties despite possible aversive consequences

Question 11

Stage 6: Intimacy vs Isolation

Answer 11

Can’t occur til identity is established
- NOT the same as sexual intimacy

Question 12

Stage 7: Generativity vs Stagnation

Answer 12

Generativity: interest in guiding the next generation (ie. parenting, teaching, mentoring)
- Alternative is stagnation

Question 13

Stage 8: Integrity vs Despair

Answer 13

Integrity: Being able to look back and say that one’s life was meaningful and valuable (and not wishing that things had been different)
- Alternative is despair

Question 14

Differences between Male and Female Identities

Answer 14

1. Women emphasize interpersonal issues
2. Men emphasize occupational issues

Question 15

Similarities between Male and Female Identities

Answer 15

Do not differ in their level of achieved identity
- while the result is the same, the process is different

Question 16

Contributions of Erikson

Answer 16

• Role of culture and lifelong developmenet
• Identity is dynamic

Question 17

Limitations of Erikson’s beliefs

Answer 17

Some descriptions are somewhat ambiguous (ie. willpower and wisdom)

Question 18

Differences from Erikson to Freud

Answer 18

1. De-emphasized the importance of unconsciousness and focused on psychosocial stages
2. Decreased role of sexual stages
3. “Fixation” doesn’t cause “stagnation”