When you think of developmental psychology what major names come to the forefront of your mind? Sigmund Freud? Erik Erikson? Jean Piaget? Maybe even Lev Vygotsky. Development is a very prominent aspect in psychology, made up of a multitude of theories. Freud’s psychosexual stages and Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development are two theories that are leading the way. These two gentlemen’s theories could not be more different, not only from a sexual aspect, but also from an overall developmental point of view. Although both arguments have their individual merits, Freud’s theories continue to hold true in my mind, despite the many criticisms of his works.
Sigmund Freud, the pioneer of psychoanalysis and a firm believer in the unconscious, has always been, and always will be, one of the most …show more content…
As a supporter of Freud, Erikson recognized Freud’s contributions, but he also stressed that the psychoanalytic psychologist was too rash in his sexual implications, and he overlooked major aspects of human development. For example, whereas Freud believed that development was sexually motivated, Erikson was adamant that it was more focused on society and an individual’s desire to associate with other people. At each stage of Erikson’s development theory, an individual is confronted with a task that must be resolved appropriately for him/her to grow into a healthy well rounded human being. Each of these turning points focuses on a particular issue that we must be subject to in order to increase our potential. From infancy to the age of 60 and upward, we face these challenges, be they trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. identity confusion, or generativity vs. despair. Each idea is centered on the aspect of our interactions with other people and our response to these different
Sigmund Freud, the pioneer of psychoanalysis and a firm believer in the unconscious, has always been, and always will be, one of the most …show more content…
As a supporter of Freud, Erikson recognized Freud’s contributions, but he also stressed that the psychoanalytic psychologist was too rash in his sexual implications, and he overlooked major aspects of human development. For example, whereas Freud believed that development was sexually motivated, Erikson was adamant that it was more focused on society and an individual’s desire to associate with other people. At each stage of Erikson’s development theory, an individual is confronted with a task that must be resolved appropriately for him/her to grow into a healthy well rounded human being. Each of these turning points focuses on a particular issue that we must be subject to in order to increase our potential. From infancy to the age of 60 and upward, we face these challenges, be they trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. identity confusion, or generativity vs. despair. Each idea is centered on the aspect of our interactions with other people and our response to these different