ERIKSON--CORE, like Freud’s.

ID, EGO, AND SUPEREGO

For Erikson, the ego does more than arbitrate ID-SUPEREGO conflicts. The EGO also has many rational processes that are not unconsciously motivated, for example, realistic perception and logical thinking. In this way Erikson and Murray are similar.

Life is a series of conflicts that occur in developmental stages. These are conflicts between non-sexual needs and the expectations /limitations of society. There are 8 stages in the life cycle.

DEVELOPMENT follows the EPIGENETIC PRINCIPLE, (i.e., maturation=development follows a definite, planned, genetic sequence). There is a biological unfolding from the ID that occurs in a socio-cultural setting.

There are a series of developmental tasks or crises. Success in adjustment leads to EGO STRENGTHS, which prepare us well for the next crisis.

All people need to become “ENCULTURATED” (familiarized how to act by repeated rituals) by either:

RITUALIZATION (RZ), which is ideal or

RITUALISMS (RM), which are unfortunate. RMs are exaggerated rituals that lead to rigidity and abnormality.

1. ORAL SENSORY STAGE, birth- 1 yr.

CRISIS =TRUST VS. MISTRUST

EGO STRENGTH = HOPE

RZ = NUMINOUS RITUALIZATION

RM = RITUALISM OF IDOLISM

2. MUSCULAR-ANAL, 1yr to 2-3 YR.

CRISIS = AUTONOMY VS. SHAME AND DOUBT

EGO STRENGTH = WILL

RZ = JUDICIOUSNESS

RM = LEGALISM

3. LOCOMOTOR-GENITAL, 3-6 YRS.

CRISIS = INITIATIVE AND RESPONSIBILITY VS. GUILT

EGO STRENGTH = PURPOSE

RZ = AUTHENTICITY

RM = IMPERSONATION

4. LATENCY, 6YRS-PUBERTY

CRISIS = INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY

STRENGTH = COMPETENCE

RZ = FORMALITY

RM = FORMALISM, CEREMONIALISM

5. PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE, PUBERTY-20 YRS.

CRISIS = IDENTITY VS. ROLE CONFUSION

STRENGTH = FIDELITY

RZ = IDEOLOGY

RM = TOTALISM, ARISTOCRACY

“Adolescent love is an attempt to arrive at a definition of one’s identity by projecting one’s diffused ego image on another and by seeing it thus reflected and gradually clarified.”

PUBERTY IS THE TIME OF THE `“PSYCHOSOCIAL MORATORIUM”

6. YOUNG ADULTHOOD, 20-30 YRS.

CRISIS = INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION

STRENGTH = LOVE

RZ = AFFILIATION

RM = ELITISM

7. MATURE ADULTHOOD, 30 TO 65 YRS.

CRISIS = GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATION

STRENGTH = CARE

RZ = GENERATIONAL

RM = AUTHORITISM

8. LATE ADULTHOOD, 65-DEATH

CRISIS = EGO INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR

STRENGTH = WISDOM

RZ = INTEGRATION

RM = SAPIENTISM

There are 3 overlapping PHASES to each STAGE.

1. Immature phase (earlier than the chronological ages)

2. Critical phase (corresponds to the chronological age)

3. Resolution (good or poor).

For example, imagine a person forming their identity before the critical phase of the Identity crisis in STAGE 5 by learning strengths in the previous stages.

1. Trust--”I am what I am given”

2. Autonomy--”I am what I will”

3. Initiative--”I am what I imagine I will be”

4. Industry--”I am what I learn”.

There are also overlaps among the stages in the following ways

Stages

Trust, Autonomy, Initiative, & Industry

Trust in the world and one’s self leads to the confidence to be self-directive and productive.

Stages

Industry, Identity, Intimacy, & Generativity

Finding one’s self in work and loved ones.

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY--The result of a failure to successfully resolve a crisis, usually earlier. Someone unsuccessful at resolving a current crisis may show signs in her/his personality of having adequately worked through earlier crises successfully.