Erik H. Erikson
Erik H. Erikson was a prominent psychologist known for his significant contributions to the field of psychoanalysis and human development. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1902 to a Jewish mother and an unknown Danish father, Erikson later moved to the United States to escape the rise of the Nazis. He initially worked as an artist before transitioning into psychology, receiving his training at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute. Erikson is best known for his theory of psychosocial development, which outlines eight stages that individuals navigate throughout their lives, each characterized by a specific identity conflict.
His influential book, "Childhood and Society," published in 1950, synthesized his research and ideas, including psychoanalytic examinations of historical figures like Adolf Hitler. Erikson's work emphasized the importance of culture and society in shaping identity, distinguishing him from traditional Freudian theorists. He received widespread recognition, including the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Mahatma Gandhi, "Gandhi's Truth." Erikson continued to impact psychology throughout his career as a professor and writer until his retirement in 1970. His legacy endures as one of the most influential figures in understanding personality development and the role of cultural context in psychology.
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Erik H. Erikson
- Born: June 15, 1902
- Birthplace: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Died: May 12, 1994
- Place of death: Harwich, Massachusetts
Biography
Erik Erikson was born in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, to Karla Abrahamsen, a Jewish woman, and an unknown Danish father. When Erik was three years old, his mother married a pediatrician, Theodor Homburger. Erik’s name became Erik Homburger. The family moved to Karlsruhe, Germany. After high-school graduation, Erik worked as an artist. On April 1, 1930, Erik Homburger married Joan Mowat Serson, a dance teacher. They had three children.
In 1933, Homburger graduated from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute. In order to escape the Nazi influence in Germany, he moved his family to Boston, Massachusetts. From 1934 to 1935, Homburger taught and carried out research in the department of neuropsyhchiatry at Harvard University. In addition, he opened a private child psychology practice and became a pioneer in that field. Between 1936 and 1939, he taught in the School of Medicine at Yale University. When he became an American citizen in 1939, he legally changed his name to Erik Erikson. From the latter part of 1939 until 1950, Erikson taught at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1950, he published Childhood and Society. The book included a summary of some of his studies conducted among native Americans, a psychoanalysis of Adolf Hitler, and an overview of his version of Freudian theory.
After leaving Berkeley in 1950, Erikson returned to Massachusetts, where he practiced child psychoanalysis and taught at Harvard. A student of both Anna and Sigmund Freud, Erikson developed a theory of human psychological development that involves a series of eight stages. Six of the eight stages occur by young adulthood. Each stage involves an optimal amount of time during which an identity conflict is resolved. According to Erikson, the outcome of these conflicts shapes the individual’s personality. He believed that adults can overcome negative thought patterns and deprivations that may have occurred during childhood. Known as an ego psychologist, Erikson elaborated on his theories in a number of popular books, particularly Identity and the Life Cycle, Youth: Change and Challenge, and Identity: Youth and Crisis. Being more sociologically inclined and culturally oriented than most Freudians, Erikson gained popularity among both Freudians and non-Freudians.
In Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History and Gandhi’s Truth: On the Origins of Militant Nonviolence, Erikson demonstrated his creative, insightful writing style on psychoanalytical themes in different cultural and historical settings. He also revealed his positive view of religion as an important influence in successful personality development. In Gandhi’s Truth, he wrote a detailed biography of Mahatma Gandhi, analyzing his nonviolent tactics in political affairs. For that book, Erikson was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for Philosophy and Religion in 1970.
Erikson retired as a professor emeritus from Harvard in 1970. In 1974, he received the National Association for Mental Health Research Award. After retirement, Erikson continued to write about psychoanalysis and was involved with the Erik Erikson Center, founded at the Harvard School of Medicine in 1987. During his career, Erikson established a reputation as one of the most influential psychologists in history.