Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory Explained

Introduction to Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

Psychologist Erik Erikson is well-known for his theory of psychosocial development, which depends upon the successful resolution of various identity crises occurring in stages throughout the lifetime. Because the resolution of these crises depended not only on the individual but also on the individual's social environment, Erikson's personality theory was innovative in suggesting that personality development was a psychosocial process, not simply a psychological one. Erikson's "developmental progression — from trust to autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, generativity, and integrity — was conceived as the sequential reorganization of ego and character structures. Each phase was the potential root of later health and pathology" (Erikson Institute, 2014).

Erikson's Early Life and Identity Struggles

When one examines Erikson's early life, the idea that psychosocial development results from a series of identity crises seems to directly reflect his own personal experience. Erikson encountered several identity issues during childhood. He believed that his mother's second husband was his biological father, and later discovered he might have been his mother's first husband's child. In reality, however, he was the product of an extramarital affair, and his mother was a single mother for a period of time. As a result, Erikson never knew his biological father.

From a traditional Freudian perspective, not knowing his father would have been sufficient to predict developmental challenges. Indeed, "while this may seem like merely an interesting anecdote about his heritage, the mystery over Erikson's biological parentage served as one of the key forces behind his later interest in identity formation" (Cherry, 2014).

Cultural Marginalization and Its Influence on Theory

Erikson faced additional identity struggles that appear to have contributed to his theories. His mother was Jewish, but his biological father appears to have been a non-Jewish man. "His interest in identity was further developed based upon his own experiences in school. At his Jewish temple school he was teased for being a tall, blue-eyed, and blonde Nordic-looking boy who stood out among the rest of the kids. At grammar school, he was rejected because of his Jewish background. These early experiences helped fuel his interest in identity formation and continued to influence his work throughout his life" (Cherry, 2014).

References

Cherry, K. (2014). Erik Erikson biography. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from About.com website:

Erikson, E. H. (1966). Eight ages of man. International Journal of Psychiatry, 2(3), 291–300.

Erikson, E. H. (1984). Reflections on the last stage — and the first. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 39, 155–165.

Erikson Institute. (2014). Erik H. Erikson. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://www.erikson.edu/about/history/erik-erikson/