Erick Erickson
Erick Erickson was a renowned philosopher/psychologist who
sought to understand how human beings facilitate their existence through the
development of societal processes in the context of various stages of life. It
is estimated that there are a number of challenging principles that Erickson
demonstrates as significant to the development of human existence as it is now
known. It is important to recognize that Erickson’s theory encompasses a number
of key principles, including but not limited to various aspects of sensory
cognition and development. These principles are also directly related to a
discussion of Erickson’s autobiography, as it offers a sense of understanding
that there are considerable challenges in all areas of human existence, and that
these issues are critical to the development of modern humanity as a whole.
The following eight principles
are key components of Erickson’s theory of Psychosocial Development: 1)
Oral-sensory, which encompasses the feeding process in infants; 2)
Muscular-anal, which is comprised of the potty training process; 3) Locomotor,
which facilitates the process of independence; 4) Latency, which encompasses
entry into a school setting; 5) Adolescence, which enables young adults to
establish various forms of peer relations; 6) Young adulthood, which allows
individuals to form loving relationships with others; 7) Middle adulthood, which
encompasses the parenting process; and 8) Maturity, which is the last stage of
life and allows individuals to reflect upon their past circumstances and
situations (Erickson Home Page). It is evident that these eight stages of life
are comprised of a wide variety of circumstances, regardless of the culture in
which an individual is most comfortable with, and they are experienced by all
persons at different rates (Erickson Home Page). In the context of these
various stages of development, there are individuals that might not live to
experience all stages due to an early death; therefore, since this is an element
of the unknown, these individuals must live life to the fullest when the time is
available to them.
In relation to Erick
Ericson’s own autobiography, his theory of Psychosocial Development can be
applied to his own life circumstances. For example, within his lifetime, Erick
Erickson experienced a number of problems and issues that created his own form
of identity crisis (Erickson Home Page). Specifically, Erickson was born into
the Jewish faith, yet his features were similar to that of the Nordic culture,
and as a result, he was often confused with traditions that he was unfamiliar
with, thereby leading to his inability to uniquely identify with one given
culture (Erickson Home Page). Since Erickson’s own father was not around at the
time of his birth and beyond, he did not possess the same background as many of
his counterparts, and therefore, he could not necessarily relate to the same
situations and circumstances as other children (Erickson Home Page). Therefore,
in the context of his own theory of Psychosocial Development, Erickson endured
the earliest stages of his life without a father figure in the home to depend
upon and to learn from, and therefore, he lacked an element of the overall
paternal experience to some degree (Erickson Home Page). It is evident that
Erickson’s own lifestyle and personal hardships served as a basis for his own
sense of theoretical development, and he sought to describe various aspects of
this development in the context of human existence as a whole (Erickson Home
Page).
Erickson’s own beliefs
regarding the eight stages of Psychosocial Development are largely based upon
the reality that there are needs that all individuals require, many of which are
not readily available for utilization and consumption without experiencing these
life stages and the challenges that they bring. Although Erickson’s own
circumstances were somewhat difficult to endure, he was able to capitalize on
his knowledge and experiences in order to develop this theory of how human
beings develop a sense of social reality coupled with an emotional element of
understanding.
Erick Erickson was a
renowned psychologist because he sought to develop a means of identifying the
specific circumstances that human beings endure throughout their lifetimes.
Because of his own rejection at a young age by local Jewish individuals,
Erickson faced many hardships during the earliest stages of development, and
during Stages five and six, he chose to travel and to experience the world
rather than to attend college, perhaps as a means of understanding his own
identity in an improved fashion (Psychology.about.com). As his life progressed
through stages six and seven, Erickson sought new experiences, and his
employment at various American-based institutions enabled him to further advance
his own theory of development to an even greater level (Psychology.about.com).
He was particularly interested in child development, as he sought to understand
how individuals possess various challenges throughout the earliest stages of
childhood and adolescence, and the subsequent reasons behind these challenges (Psychology.about.com).
It is important to note that Erickson was a pioneer in this specific area of
development, and he placed much of the concern on the social circumstances of
individuals in a variety of capacities, regardless of the stage that they faced
(Psychology.about.com). Furthermore, Erickson’s own fears and trepidations
regarding life and its various stages may be attributed to his own lack of
social understanding at a very young age, as well as his confusion regarding
belonging to a specific culture or group (Psychology.about.com). In many ways,
Erickson served as a primary example of an individual that sought to create an
identity for himself through these various stages of human existence, and there
was a considerable emphasis on various aspects of human development and
understanding in a given context.
In conclusion, Erick
Erickson’s theory of Psychosocial Development is of considerable importance in
modern learning, as it provides experts with knowledge and understanding
regarding why individuals undergo various stages of development, all of which
create opportunities for human beings to experience any number of situations and
circumstances that are both challenging and rewarding. Erickson’s own life
mirrors his theory, as he faced a difficult identity crisis early in life, which
led him down the path of psychosocial development.
References
Erickson Home Page.
“Erickson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development.” 11 December 2004:
http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/ERIK/sum.HTML
Psychology.about.com.
“Famous Psychologist: Erick
Erickson.” 11 December 2004: http://psychology.about.com/blsub_isterik.htm
