Erik Erikson and Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson are two of the most famous psychoanalysts of human development.

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Freud and Erikson devoted to the field of psychoanalysis and psychology by separating development into stages of a person’s lives. Freud’s work has five psychosexual stages. Erikson has Eight psychosocial stages. Freud’s and Erikson’s theories both recognize the importance of the unconscious on development. Each theory is comprised of similarities as well as the difference in each developmental stage.

Sigmund Freud believed that development is determined by basic needs and biological forces.

Erikson believed that human development is shaped by social and environmental factors. This contrast in theories causes major differences in how human development is viewed by each theorist. Freud’s stages of development are focused on childhood, Erikson’s theory has stages beginning at childhood and continues throughout life. In both theories, the individual must overcome challenges whether sexually or socially. Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson are two of the most famous psychoanalysts of human development. Freud and Erikson devoted to the field of psychoanalysis and psychology by separating development into stages of a person’s lives. Freud’s work has five psychosexual stages. Erikson has Eight psychosocial stages.

Freud’s and Erikson’s theories both recognize the importance of the unconscious on development. Each th Freud’s first developmental stage begins in the first year of life and is known as the Oral stage. The infant needs oral stimulation, whether it be by suckling, eating, or tasting. Erikson’s first stage is known as the infant learns to trust by his parents or his caregivers.

Failing to receive a nurturing environment can result in mistrust later in life. The second stage is from 1-3 years of age, Freud’s Anal stage theory agree that a child develops a sense of independence through toilet training. Guilt is the third stage from 3-6 years of age. Freud believes the child identifies with same-sex parent which helps to develop self-esteem. Erikson believes that in this stage, the child starts to take power and control over their environment. In the fourth stage, Freud believes this is the stage where the child begins from interactions with his/her environment.

Erikson believes in this stage the child starts to demonstrate the ability to succeed. The last stage in the Freudian therefore is comprised of similarities as well as the difference in each developmental stage. Freud and Erikson both helped set the foundation for future psychologists and psychoanalysts with their developmental stages. I believe that although these theories have been widely criticized and argued against, that it holds to how an individual develops both sexually and socially. I feel that Erikson’s psychosocial theory applies more today because I believe an individual is shaped mainly by his/her environmental experiences. The challenges that one faces can either ‘make or break you’. One must have the ability to move through each stage in life and learn from what one can succeed in and what one’s weaknesses are to have a better sense of self and a sense of belonging today.