Psychologists VS Historians
Martin Luther was the man at the head of the Protestant Reformation. He is remembered for his many published works criticizing the Roman Catholic Church, particularly their use of indulgences. While it is universally accepted that Luther is the father of reformation, historians and psychologists disagree on exactly why Luther felt the need to speak out against such a powerful organization. Erik Erikson, for example, believed Luther was motivated to reform the church through subconscious desires from unsettled conflicts from his childhood. Erikson invented the concept of psychosocial development, meaning each individual goes through stages in life and the unsuccessful completion of these stages may determine future …show more content…
Erikson believes childhood is key to human behavior, but unfortunately, very little about Luther’s early life is undisputed. Erikson recognized the lack of concrete facts regarding Luther’s early life and stated that as a clinician he is forced to recognize trends even when there are little to no reputable facts. As an example, Luther stated he remembered being beaten three times as a child: once by his father, mother, and his school teacher. Erikson took this and concluded that Luther grew up being abused and therefore formed a sense of distrust towards his parents. Similarly, based on studies of second generation immigrants, Erikson decided Luther’s father must be demanding and paternalistic causing Luther to have a love-hate relationship with his parents; this same love-hate relationship, Erikson believes, aided in his urge to attack and reform the Catholic Church. Ozment sees Erikson’s observations to be very suggested and fabricated. Ozment states reliable historical evidence suggests Luther was “unhappy neither at home nor in school” (Ozment, 227). This statement would go against what Erikson would believe if Luther were truly abused by his parents. Ozment also argues Luther’s sense of unworthiness comes from cultural reasons rather than parental. Due to the lack of concreate facts regarding Luther’s childhood, historians and psychologists alike are left guessing when it comes to the events of Luther’s early
Martin Luther was the man at the head of the Protestant Reformation. He is remembered for his many published works criticizing the Roman Catholic Church, particularly their use of indulgences. While it is universally accepted that Luther is the father of reformation, historians and psychologists disagree on exactly why Luther felt the need to speak out against such a powerful organization. Erik Erikson, for example, believed Luther was motivated to reform the church through subconscious desires from unsettled conflicts from his childhood. Erikson invented the concept of psychosocial development, meaning each individual goes through stages in life and the unsuccessful completion of these stages may determine future …show more content…
Erikson believes childhood is key to human behavior, but unfortunately, very little about Luther’s early life is undisputed. Erikson recognized the lack of concrete facts regarding Luther’s early life and stated that as a clinician he is forced to recognize trends even when there are little to no reputable facts. As an example, Luther stated he remembered being beaten three times as a child: once by his father, mother, and his school teacher. Erikson took this and concluded that Luther grew up being abused and therefore formed a sense of distrust towards his parents. Similarly, based on studies of second generation immigrants, Erikson decided Luther’s father must be demanding and paternalistic causing Luther to have a love-hate relationship with his parents; this same love-hate relationship, Erikson believes, aided in his urge to attack and reform the Catholic Church. Ozment sees Erikson’s observations to be very suggested and fabricated. Ozment states reliable historical evidence suggests Luther was “unhappy neither at home nor in school” (Ozment, 227). This statement would go against what Erikson would believe if Luther were truly abused by his parents. Ozment also argues Luther’s sense of unworthiness comes from cultural reasons rather than parental. Due to the lack of concreate facts regarding Luther’s childhood, historians and psychologists alike are left guessing when it comes to the events of Luther’s early