June 15th: The Day Erik Erikson was Born

Erik Erikson was born 110 years ago

The name Erik Erikson firstly, makes me think how wholly unimaginative his parents must have been; and secondly, is inextricably linked with the development of human psychology. Erikson was famous for his theory that the stages of life had a strong connection with specific psychological issues that contribute to major aspects of the personality. Born June 15th 1902, he lived for 91 years; and lucky for him, was able to live through a time when his work was recognized and publicly praised.
    In the same vein as Freud, Erikson's work suggested that the ego and a person's identity are developed over the whole life span, and that adult life experiences may restore previous problems in childhood. His pioneering theory of the psychosocial life cycle consisted of eight stages from infancy to old age:

1. Infancy: Emotional conflict between basic trust and mistrust. 
2. Muscular-anal: Autonomy conflicts with shame and doubt.
3. Locomotor-genital: Conflict between initiative and guilt 
4. Latency: Positive component is industry, The negative is inferiority. 
5. Adolescence: The identity crisis, or role confusion, normally occurs. 
6. Young adulthood: Intimacy conflicts with isolation. 
7. Adulthood: Crisis poles are generativity and stagnation. 
8. Maturity: Despair threatens ego integrity.

Erickson's work heavily impacted psychoanalysis, but not necessarily for the best in everyone's opinion. Many Freudian followers and academics doubted the accuracy and authenticity of his work, mainly due to Erikson's education. Indeed, the only diploma he had received was in high school, and was criticized for lacking scholarly achievements, something others in the psychology field were not lacking.
   Nevertheless, today his work is acknowledged globally by psychologists as a groundbreaking perspective of human development, which changes the way we live. He is the man responsible for coining the term "identity crisis", a phrase commonly used in modern day...*cough*Lady Gaga*cough*... Erik Erikson's theories should not go unnoticed, they have revealed valuable aspects about human psychology which carry implications about the way we live.