Freud vs. Erikson: Psychosexual and Psychosocial Theories

Introduction

This essay begins by discussing the Psychoanalytic Theory proposed by Sigmund Freud, which portrays human behaviour as the result of conflict between biological drives that develop slowly from childhood and play a significant part in determining a person's character. After a brief review of the Psychoanalytic Theory and an evaluation of it against modern psychoanalytic perspectives, the discussion turns to Erikson's theory — a quite different framework that reduces the significance of biological contributions. Erikson's theory supposes that personality development is determined not only by biological factors but also by historical, ethnic, and cognitive factors, and it directly addresses the challenges people face in the modern world.

The fact that terms such as "inner space," "identity crisis," and "lifespan" have gained prominence in both spoken and written language is testament to Erikson's theory's enduring relevance. His framework also has a heuristic dimension that has stimulated thinking among philosophers, theologians, and psychologists alike. This paper defines, compares, and contrasts the theories proposed by Freud and Erikson.

Freud's Psychosexual Theory

The psychosexual theory proposed by Freud argues that the phases of personality growth are based on the maturation of the sex instinct, and that the manner in which guardians manage the impulses arising from this instinct will determine the child's future character. Freud believed that people are born with an id — the pleasure-seeking component of personality — which drives individuals toward their basic needs without regard for circumstance or consequence.

Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

Erikson's theory, sometimes associated with a coherence-based philosophical perspective, draws on philosophical reasoning rather than purely scientific argument to explain personality. In contrast to Freud, Erikson did not rely on a strictly scientific framework; instead, he used philosophical statements in the belief that a proper theory of personality must be grounded in philosophical reasoning. To develop his understanding, Erikson explored the development of the superego and differentiated between adult ethics, adolescent ideology, and infant morality. By exploring these developments and differentiating between these three moral commitments, Erikson was able to demonstrate how epigenetic theories describe the development of conscience and principles.

The ego stages outlined by Erikson can be understood as ethical values that every individual should incorporate into his or her life. Thus, unlike Freud, Erikson's philosophical statements are explicit and direct (Shaffer & Kipp, 2010).

Comparing and Contrasting the Two Theories

Although Erikson accepted many of the ideas proposed by Freud, he differed from him in two important respects. First, Erikson (1963) emphasized that children are curious explorers and discoverers who constantly try to adapt to different situations — in contrast to Freud's view that children are passive subjects of biological drives, to be moulded solely by their guardians. Second, Freud places far more stress on sexual impulses and far less stress on cultural influences than Erikson does. According to Schaffer (2009), Erikson's thinking was likely informed by his own personal experiences.

Erikson is renowned for his psychosocial theory, while Sigmund Freud is renowned for his psychosexual theory. Both individuals are considered foundational figures in modern psychology, and both theories address the development of character across identifiable stages. While the two frameworks share several similarities — notably the portrayal of life as progressing through defined stages — they differ substantially in their premises. The psychosexual theory rests on Freud's belief that the individual is driven by biological urges and may become fixated if gratification is not achieved at a given phase. Erikson's theory, while building on Freud's work, holds that society and culture play a more significant role in the development of personality.

In Freud's theory, the phallic phase is the stage at which libido energy is concentrated in the reproductive organs. It is also the stage at which the boy identifies with his father and the girl with her mother. Subsequently, boys begin to feel attracted to their mothers (the Oedipus complex) and girls to their fathers (the Electra complex). In Erikson's psychosocial framework, the equivalent phase is the initiative versus guilt stage, in which children begin to assert control over their surroundings. According to Erikson, success in this phase produces a sense of purpose, while failure results in a sense of guilt.

Freud's Five Stages of Psychosexual Development

In Freud's psychosexual theory, the first stage is the oral phase, characterized by the child interacting with its environment through the mouth. At this stage, the child is entirely dependent on its caregivers and develops trust through feeding and oral stimulation. The second phase is the anal phase, in which the central concern is toilet training — teaching the child to control bowel and bladder movements. Success in this phase is marked by the child beginning to use the washroom effectively (Jarvis & Chandler, 2001).

The third stage is the phallic phase, in which libido or sexual energy is concentrated on the reproductive organs. During this stage, boys begin to feel attracted to their mothers (Oedipus complex) while girls feel attracted to their fathers (Electra complex). In the Oedipus complex, the boy becomes attracted to his mother and begins to view his father as a rival, while the girl similarly views her mother as a competitor. The fourth stage is the latent period, during which sexual energy is redirected toward other activities such as sports and education. The fifth and final stage is the genital stage, in which the individual develops attraction toward the opposite sex and begins to shift from self-interest toward concern for the wider community (Cherry, n.d.).

Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erikson's psychosocial theory is also organized into stages. The first is the trust versus mistrust phase, in which the infant develops a sense of comfort, safety, and trust through consistent and caring interactions with caregivers. The second stage is autonomy versus doubt and shame, in which the infant begins to develop feelings of control over its environment through guidance from caregivers (Hayes, 1999). The third phase is initiative versus guilt, in which the child begins to assert beliefs and intentions in social interactions. The fourth phase is industry versus inferiority, in which the child becomes focused on acquiring intellectual and practical skills. Success produces self-confidence; failure produces feelings of inferiority. Erikson emphasized that progression through this stage depends heavily on the encouragement of caregivers, parents, and teachers (Jarvis & Chandler, 2001).

The fifth phase is the identity versus role confusion stage, in which the individual works to develop a coherent self-identity. Success yields a sense of control and independence. The sixth phase is intimacy versus isolation, in which the person becomes concerned with forming meaningful personal relationships. Erikson argued that this stage is highly dependent on the preceding identity stage — a strong sense of self is a prerequisite for developing effective relationships. The seventh phase is generativity versus stagnation, in which the individual develops a sense of investment in family and career. The eighth and final stage, integrity versus despair, involves reflection on one's life and achievements. This stage is often characterized by nostalgia (Difference Between Erikson and Freud, 2011).

Conclusion

Erikson and Freud are two of the most influential psychoanalysts in the modern world. Even though their theories differ in terms of focus, they also share several similarities. For instance, Erikson agreed with Freud that human development proceeds according to predetermined stages. However, important differences remain. Erikson emphasized that children are curious explorers and active discoverers who constantly try to adapt to different situations, in contrast to Freud's view that children are passive subjects of biological drives, to be shaped by their guardians. A second crucial difference is that Freud placed far greater stress on sexual impulses and far less on cultural influences than Erikson did. These distinctions are reflected in the labels given to each framework: Freud's theory is designated psychosexual, while Erikson's is designated psychosocial. Together, these two frameworks continue to provide foundational perspectives for understanding personality across the human lifespan.

References

Cherry, K. (n.d.). Freud vs. Erikson: How do their theories compare? Retrieved November 16, 2015, from

Difference Between Erikson and Freud. (2011, April 5). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-erikson-and-freud/

Hayes, N. (1999). Access to psychology. Hodder & Stoughton Educational.

Jarvis, M., & Chandler, E. (2001). Angles on psychology. Nelson Thornes Limited.

Schaffer, D. R. (2009). Social and personality development. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.

Shaffer, D. R., & Kipp, K. (2010). Developmental psychology: Childhood and adolescence. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Sincero, S. M. (2012, June 15). Psychodynamic theories of personality. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/psychodynamic-theories-of-personality