AP+P2+2014-15+Erik+Erikson

Historical -Sydney Miller Erik Erikson was highly regarded in the field of psychology, and rightly so. Through his observations, he classified the Human psychological stages that people go through into 8 distinct stages. one description of his 8 stages says “Each stage is regarded by Erikson as a “psychosocial crisis,” which arises and demands resolution before the next stage can be satisfactorily negotiated” (Stages of Social). This revolutionized the field of Psychology in the sense that there was a rough outline of the progression of the conflicts that each person has as they go through life. Some examples of the stages are  “establishing a sense of trust in others, developing a sense of identity in society, and helping the next generation prepare for the future” (McLeod). As previously stated, this 8 stage system revolutionized psychology and gave psychologists a very basic roadmap to better understand the conflicts their patients were going though. It also named the “normal” conflicts for people to have, which helps psychologists to find other distinct conflicts that person has in order to help them. Erik helped the art of psychology get one step closer to perfection, so yes he definitely made history.

Work Cited

“Erik Erikson.” n.p. WriteCheck. Simply Psychology, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014

“Stages of Social-Emotional Development.” n.p. Child Development Institute, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014

Adriano Dominguez- Aim Erik Erikson was a psychologist who created the 8-stage psychosocial theory that is used to explain how people develop social interactions over the course of their lifetime. His original purpose in creating the theory was to observe children, since “You see a child play and it is so close to seeing an artist paint, for in play a child says things without uttering a word” (Cherry 3). This quote shows that Erikson showed a deep interest in children and how they developed, and that was his original focus. But of course, after a certain point children turn into adolescents and then further into adults, and they do not suddenly stop changing. This is why he created the 8 stages, the last 3 taking place during adolescence through death, because people are always growing and changing. Each stage is very detailed and can be observed throughout any person’s lifetime. This contribution to the field of psychology has been helpful not only through explaining how to best parent a child, but also how to better their education and ensure that a child can live a full and happy life.

Works Cited: "Erik Erikson Biography (1902 - 1994)" //About.// n.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. "Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development" //About.// n.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Thomas VanAtta- Cultural Impact Erik Erikson was influential in the field of psychology, creating a 8 stage system for human life and maturity. Early in his life he devoted himself to experiencing the world around him and taking notes about human nature, eventually however he journeyed to America where he continued his studies on human development and culture. He has made several observations about society in the United States “constantly concerned with the rapid social changes in America and wrote about issues such as the generation gap, racial tensions, juvenile delinquency, changing sexual roles, and the dangers of nuclear war” (Sharkey). Erik has developed his theories and ideals from direct contact creating a more accurate and grounded analysis of society, which means his theories can better represent current climates of not only the United States but the world. From concerns over nuclear war, prevalent today as many countries have developed and are producing the technology. The concerns present today dealing with identity and sexual orientation Erikson was able to analyze and his works are still prevalent and illuminating today to their root or “the concept of the identity crisis, the confusion of roles that Erikson first identified” (Erik). Erikson not only revolutionized Freudian thought he developed ideals that are still used today regarding the social development of humans and the identity struggles they face. The identity of a patient is directly connected with their meaning and can be influenced severely by Logotherapy as many of Erickson's ideals are the basis of Logotherapy. Sources: Sharkey, Wendy. "Erik Erikson." Muskingum Psychology. Muskingum College, 1 May 1997. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

"Erik H. Erikson Erikson Institute’s Namesake." Erikson. Erikson Institute, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

Elizabeth Fagan- Audience

Erik Erikson had a deep impact on the world of psychology by his relationship to his audience. His 8 steps of development look into, “ establishing a sense of trust in others, developing a sense of identity in society, and helping the next generation prepare for the future,” (McLeod 1). By looking into people’s lives, Erikson got a deeper understanding of different people’s lives. However, Erikson removed himself a bit from people’s lives. He toured Europe by himself, observing people’s lives before coming back to his home town. Erickson found his passion teaching students, even though he had no degree. Throughout his career teaching students he created, “..basic developmental framework — conflict negotiated in the context of relationships — (that) continues to illuminate our thinking, as does the concept of the identity crisis, the confusion of roles that Erikson first identified,” (Erickson 1). Erickson worked to impact children’s life and push forward the study of psychology.

 Work Cited "Erik H. Erikson." Erikson Institute. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. McLeod, Saul. "Erik Erikson." Simply Psychology. 1 Jan. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.