Need Help Writing a Paper?

Have Paper Masters custom write your project today!

  • 24/7 Customer Support
  • Free Plagiarism Check
  • Writing at Your Level
  • Writers All Have Advanced Degrees
  • Will Follow Specific Instructions
Need Help Writing a Paper?
Yes! Write My Paper!

Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson

As one of the most famous psychologists, Erik Erikson research papers may overview his achievements, his psychological theories or compare and contrast his theories to other great psychologists. Whatever you need, Paper Masters can custom write a research paper for you on any aspect of Erik Erikson for your psychology classes.

Erik Homberger Erikson's theory of development is perhaps one of the most widely applied models to emerge from the field of psychology during the last century. Born in Frankfurt, Germany to Danish parents in 1902, the young Dane was an indifferent student who felt he did not "fit in" with regard to formal educational settings. Perhaps his self-awareness helped him to formulate his very unique theory.

Erikson and Freud

Erikson might be described as a disciple of Sigmund Freud. He considered himself psychoanalytic in terms of theoretical or philosophical perspective, and he agreed with Freud on many basic assumptions . Like Jung, Horney, and others, Erikson began with Freudian assumptions and built upon them. The result is a theoretical perspective quite distinct from that of the "master."

Erik Erikson's Ideology

Sigmund Freud's Ideology

Epigenetic sequence of personality development over the lifespan.

Personality was essentially established when the Oedipus and Electra complexes were successfully resolved.

Places considerably less emphasis on the role of sexual instincts and drives and more on the social context in which the individual grows and develops.

Focuses on the psychosexual stages of development that are interpersonal struggles of stages of sexuality .

Erikson's theory focuses psychosocial.

Freud speaks of psychosexual stages.

Major happenings are a result of interaction between individuals

Major "happenings" that impact personality occur within the mind

Erikson's theory, then, is characterized by several "points of departure" from his mentor's approach. The most immediately obvious difference is that Erikson places considerably less emphasis on the role of sexual instincts and drives and more on the social context in which the individual grows and develops. This deviation from Freudian theory is apparent even in the labels placed on stages described by the two - Freud speaks of psychosexual stages, while the developmental sequence described by Erikson is usually referred to as psychosocial. Erikson's theory, then, gives considerable attention to interpersonal elements - such as the infant's development of trust through consistent caregivers in the first year of life. Freud's approach emphasizes intrapsychic phenomena - the major "happenings" that impact personality occur within the mind of the individual rather than as a result of interaction between individuals.

Erikson and Personality

Perhaps even more importantly, Erikson was the first major theorist to suggest an "epigenetic sequence of personality development over the lifespan" . Freud suggested strongly that that personality was essentially established when the Oedipus and Electra complexes were successfully resolved. Thus, many historians of psychology believe that Erikson's major contribution to the field was his proposal that intellectual and emotional development continue until death.

Related Research Paper Topic Suggestions

Anal Stage - Anal Stage term papers examine the second phase in Sigmund Freud’s five-stage theory of childhood and adolescent psychosexual development.

A Primer of Freudian Psychology - A Primer of Freudian Psychology Research Papers examine Calvin Hall's book that allows the general reader to understand Freudian psychology.

Ego - Ego papers examine the second part of Sigmund Freud’s classic division of human personality. The ID and the Super Ego can also be studied in light of psychological theories.

Eros and Thanatos - Eros and Thanatos research papers discuss Sigmund Freud's theory that human beings have an instinct for life which he called Eros, and an opposing drive towards death, which he named Thanatos.

Freud - Freud research papers discuss Freud and his psychological theories. Paper Masters will custom write research on Sigmund Freud and any aspect of his life or work, including his thoughts on the nature of religion.

Freud Latency Stage - Freud Latency Stage research papers look into the fourth stage of Sigmund Freud’s 5-stage framework of childhood and adolescent psychosexual development.

Freuds Psychosexual Development Theory - Freud's Psychosexual Development Theory research papers discuss Sigmund Freud's studies in behavioral changes that focus on the areas of the body that include the mouth, anus, and genital areas.

Genital Stage - Genital Stage Research Papers examine the final stage in Freud's psychosexual development theory.

Id - Id term papers look at the first part of Sigmund Freud’s three-part psychic makeup of human beings.

Latency Stage - Latency Stage research papers look into the fourth major phase of psychical and sexual development that lasts from around the age of five or six until the time of puberty.

Oedipal Phase - Oedipal Phase research papers discuss a subset of Freud’s phallic stage, which occurs between the ages of 4 and 6, that is marked by conflict between the young child and his or her parents.

Oedipus Complex - Oedipus Complex research papers discuss the unconscious desire to sexually possess one’s opposite sex parent.

Oral Stage - Oral Stage Research Papers examine the first of five stages in Freud’s psychosexual development theory.

Orgone Energy - Orgone Energy research papers overview the hypothetical life force first developed by Wilhelm Reich.

Pleasure Principle - Research papers on the pleasture principle examine the foundations of Freudian psychology, the idea that the human being will instinctively seek to avoid pain and seek out pleasure in the drive to satisfy psychological and biological urges.

Psychodynamic Theory - Psychodynamic Theory research papers analyze the processes of the mind, where flows of energy pass through the organic structure of the brain.

Sigmund Freud - Sigmund Freud Research Papers examine the philosophies of psychoanalytic therapy.

Stages of Gender Development - A research paper on the stages of gender development discuss the various theories that explain how gender develops in children.

Superego - Superego essays discuss the third and final part of Sigmund Freud’s classic understanding of human consciousness.

The Phallic Stage - Phallic Stage research papers examine Freud’s third stage in his psychosexual development theory.


Paper Masters

  • Custom Written Papers
  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Guaranteed Confidentiality
  • Text us for a Quote Today!
    1-570-301-7456

This is a topic on
Erik Erikson Research Papers

Erik Erikson Research Papers delve into his theory of emotional development. As one of the most famous psychologists, Erik Erikson research papers may overview his achievements, his psychological theories or compare and constrast his theories to other great psychologists.

Choosing a Topic:

Can't decide on a topic? Need ideas or inspiration for research in your field of study? Paper Masters provides topic suggestions to make your decision easier.

Paper Masters Site Search