SU4 ERIKSON Flashcards
How does Erikson view the perso
He views the individual as having a variety of needs, potentials, and possibilities, all accepted and supported by society. HE believes that human being’s development is progressive and lifelong. Relationship between individual and society is complementary
what is the epigenetic principle ?
individual characteristics emerge at certain ages in a particular genetically determined sequence
Basic motive of a human being
1.to develop inherent potential
2.to know and accept themselves and their possibilities
3.to know that they can feel at home with their characteristics and potentialities in their social environment
What is Erikson’s view on the structure of personality ?
personality has an executive agent (ego) and 2 other agents ( id and superego) which play a lesser role. Eriksson does not draw sharp distinctions between the person and the social environment
Ego according to Erikson
the aspect of personality that makes coordinated and planned functioning possible. capacity to unify experiences and actions in an adaptive manner. Erikson emphasized the cultural development of the ego and ego strengths.
ego strength
when an individual develops successfully, they acquire ego strengths which are positive qualities that enable the individual to cope with challenges and crises
outcome of unsuccessful development
ego weakness or pathologies
2 problems with Eriksons view on dynamics
1, he rarely uses dynamic or motivational concepts it is interwoven in his explanation of developmental processes
- he claims to be an orthodox Freudian but differs drastically from him
Erikson view on the dynamics off personality
he sees behaviour as an outcome of broad inherent developmental tendencies and behaviour patterns which are transformed into personality traits through interaction with the social environment
persons basic motive is striving for identity (more developmental than motivational)
what are the basic principles of development?
genetic-determine development through manifestations of characteristics that develop according to the genetically determined ground plan
social influence- society makes demands for individuals but at the same time provides opportunities for growth these demands are complementary to the developmental potential and needs of that individual at that specific stage of development
epigenetic chart according to Erikson
pg.198
stage and ego strengths
- infancy-trust vs mistrust(hope)
- early childhood- autonomy vs doubt(willpower)
- play age-initiative vs guilt(purpose)
- school age identity vs inferiority (competence)
- Adolescence- identity vs confusion (trustworthiness)
- Early adulthood-intimacy vs isolation and new responsibilities (love)
- generativity vs stagnation (care)
- maturity-integrity vs despair (wisdom)
developmental crises
crisis arising from the interaction between genetic development and social influence
what are modes: organ modes and psychosocial modalities
modes- an umbrella term referring to organ modes and psychosocial modalities
organ modes are pregenital forms of behaviour such as sucking biting and defecating
psychosocial modalities -general behaviour patterns emanating from organ modes
which modes are distinguished by Erikson
mode of incorporation- predominates in the 1st year of life. The dominant zone is the mouth (biting sucking etc.) incorporative behaviour such as receiving and taking with hands influence late incorporative functions. psychosocial modality of incorporation together with the way the child solves trust vs mistrust crises determines much of her lifelong functioning
modes of expulsion 2nd year of life linked within zone muscle control together with the acquisition of acceptable toilet habits provide children with proof of new abilities. modality of holding on or letting go and holding on to people or things excretion and retention of excreta become prototypes of psychosocial modalities Seeking Control or Letting things happen passively.
mode of inclusion/intrusion- 3rd-5th year -characterized by sexual organs, especially phallus sexual fantasies about sexual organs. the ability to move and coordinate movements children can now do more than they could before breaking rules and things that can cause guilt. He associated modalities are the passive form of inclusion and aggressive forms of intrusion Aggressive actions or Passive behaviours (Boys and Girls) determined by cultural factors
what are rituals and ritualization
each development stage is characterized by ritualization a pattern of actions repeated more or less exactly under certain circumstances determined by culture allows people to express their feelings and urges in an acceptable way providing a sense of security in a changing world
how does Erikson view an optimally developed person
successfully resolved developmental crisis and gained ego strengths Harmony between the individual and
society, where positive traits benefit
both.Possibility of spontaneous recovery
from developmental problems in later
stage
ritualization stages
infancy interaction that takes place between mom and infant eye contact stroking hugging and kissing infant responds starring smiling and cooing
early childhood reward and punishment works through parental approval and disapproval of behavior
play age-3-5 years games in imagination teach them to see things as others might see them and look at situations and events from a different POV this is why children love to play-act and take on different roles
school age formal ritualization play important part in the education process children learn how to talk to authority figures and prepares them for adult ritual work
views on psychopathology
his ideas of mental health are more developmental-focused. unresolved crises can lead to mental disorders
A lack of basic trust is linked to schizophrenia in
children and depressive conditions in adults.
* Shame and doubt are connected to compulsive neurosis
and paranoia.
* Failure to resolve the crisis of initiative vs. guilt can
lead to hysterical neuroses, exhibitionism, and
psychosomatic illnesses.
* Role confusionis linked to problems like megalomania,
phobias, and prejudice.
* Stagnation is related to hypochondria and what Erikson
calls “personal impoverishment,” which seems similar
to Viktor Frankl’s “existential neurosis.”
* Erikson’s main focus is on healthy development, so his
thoughts on mental disorders are limted
strength and weakness of Erikson’s theory
strengths of Erikson’s Theory: 1. Holistic Approach: Erikson’s theory covers the entire
lifespan, emphasizing that development is ongoing and not
limited to childhood. 2. Focus on Social Interaction: The theory highlights the
importance of social interactions and relationships in shaping
personality, which aligns with modern psychological
understanding. 3. Cultural Sensitivity: Erikson acknowledged the impact of
cultural and societal influences on development, making his
theory applicable to diverse populations. 4. Practical Application: The stages and crises provide a useful
framework for understanding personal growth, identity
formation, and conflict resolution, which can be applied to
therapy, education, and personal development. 5. Positive Focus: Emphasizes personal growth and the
development of positive virtues (e.g., hope, love, wisdom),
making it an optimistic approach to human development.
Weaknesses of Erikson’s Theory:
1. Vague and Broad: Some of the concepts, such as the ego
strengths, are abstract and difficult to measure or
operationalize. 2. Cultural Limitations: While Erikson emphasized cultural
influence, his model is still based on Western concepts of
individualism, which may not be applicable to all cultures. 3. Overemphasis on Social Influence: Erikson’s theory may
downplay the role of biology and genetic factors in shaping
personality, which could lead to an incomplete understanding
of development.
4. Assumption of Universal Progression: The theory assumes
that individuals will progress through stages linearly and predictably, which may not be the case for everyone. 5.Limited Focus on Early Development: Though Erikson
focuses on later stages, the theory doesn’t give as much
attention to early childhood development, which may be a
critical period for some individuals. Overall, Erikson’s theory provides a broad, useful framework
for understanding development across the lifespan but has
some limitations in its application and conceptual clarit
