Freud vs. Erikson: Psychoanalytic Theories

This assignment prompts you to delve into a comparative analysis of Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson's prominent theories within psychoanalysis. It requires you to critically examine their perspectives on human development, highlighting the core similarities and distinct differences in their conceptual frameworks.

Running head: SIGMUND FREUD VS. ERIC ERIKSON
Sigmund Freud Vs Eric Erikson
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

2SIGMUND FREUD VS ERIC ERICKSON
Introduction
Sigmund Freud was Austrian neurologist. He was known as the founder of
psychoanalysis which is a method to treatment of psychopathology. This method is
carried out through conversation with psychoanalyst.
Freud believed that human beings are animals and we are born with some
biological needs. Social need is those that we have developed over time period but
biological need is something that we always had from the beginning of human race
(Barry et al., 2017).
He tried to explain how does the unconscious mind work and what are its
importance. He tells us that unconscious minds dictate the behaviour of a person at a
higher level than we actually believe. According to Freud through psychoanalysis if
the unconscious mind can be made conscious then the problem faced by the patient
can be resolved.
Freud believed that when a child takes birth there is an amount of sexual urge
is present within him. Throughout his period of childhood the child derives pleasure
from different things. The childhood been divided into five Parts by Freud.

Sigmund Freud Vs Eric Erikson
Body
He mentioned that the first six years of childhood is very important. He states
that between these six years a child goes through three stages, the oral stage, the anal
stage and the phallic stage. During these three stages the pleasure centres for child
changes, the first being the oral, the second is anal stage and the third is phallic stage.
During these stages the centre of pleasure deriving areas revolves between the mouth,
anal and the genitals (Capps,2017).
He also explained Electra complex, during the childhood phase there is a time
when a child finds that what is opposite sex and with the understanding changes the
liking towards his or her parents. In case of a boy, he desires to replace his father as
the sexual partner and in case of a girl she becomes jealous of her mother and wants

Sigmund Freud Vs Eric Erikson
to become more close to her father. During this phase the son develops a dislike for
his father, thereby wanting her mother more.
After this phase comes the phase of latency, it starts at the age of six and
continues till puberty. During this phase a child suppress his or her sexual feelings or
desire. After this phase when the child become maturity or becomes adolescent, then
comes the final stage which is the stage genital. In this stage the child is fully aware
about his sexual behaviour and experiences sex consciousness (Rageliene , 2017).
Erik Homburger Erikson also known as Erik Erikson was a psychoanalyst who
was born in Germany. He proposed a theory for psychoanalytic. His theory had 8
stages in which he tried to explain the behaviour and personality development and
how a crisis can have positive and negative effect on those.
According to him the culture and society play a major role in development of
personality of a child. Erikson focused less on the sexual development rather had put
more emphasize on how children socialize and how those it affect there sense of self.
Erikson’s theory had eight stages amongst these eight stages first five goes till
the age of eighteen and further three stages comes under adulthood ( Ott , 2017).
According to him as a child is born he or she successfully attain all these stage
one after another which helps in building up of a healthy personality and behaviour.
Failing do so the child personality is unhealthy in nature. He mentioned that these
stages can be successfully attained at any time later.

Sigmund Freud Vs Eric Erikson
The eight stages mentioned by Erikson are as follows;
 Trust Vs Mistrust
This is the first year of the childhood days when a baby is very new to this world.
During this time the child is very uncertain about the world and is afraid. During this
period the child looks back to his or her primary care taker for proper care. If the child
is not taken care during this period properly, in that case the child develops a fear
within himself and this effect his personality (Duffy et al., 2017)
 Autonomy Vs shame and doubt
In this phase which is between 18 months to 3 years, during this time the child
discovers new abilities and skills when he or she has started learning new things.
During this period a child should be given proper encouragement to do his work
independently so that the child become more self-sufficient in the future (Erikson et
al., 2014))
 Initiative Vs Guilt
This is the phase where the child learns things rapidly and is very curious about
everything. The phase is between 3 to 5 years when a child interact other children and
develops his skill of communication. During this period a child should be given an
ample chance for interaction which will help to develop his or her personality
(Mitchell & Black , 2016).
 Industry Vs Inferiority

Sigmund Freud Vs Eric Erikson
This phase lies between the ages between 5 to 12 years where his or her friends
will play a very important role in development of personality. During this phase a
child starts to learn new things and starts to develop new skills. During this period the
child should be given enough liberty so that he or she can develop their personality.
 Identity Vs Role Confusion
This phase exist between the age 12 to 18 years. During this period a child is
trying to gain a identity for himself where he or she is developing what are their skill
and confidence to build up their career and relationship (Malone et al., 2016).
 Intimacy Vs Isolation
During this phase between 18 to 40 years we search for long term relationship
with someone other than our family’s member (Lickona , 2016).
 Generativity Vs Stagnation
This phase starts from 40 years and exist till 65 during this period a person tries to
give back to the society through his effort and maintain a long lasting relationship.
(Anderson J W 2017).
 Ego integrity Vs. Despair
After the age of sixty five this phase prevails during this phase we look back to
our past and we see the things we have done. As long as we don’t feel guilty of our
past we tend to live a slow retired life. (Winter ,2016).

Sigmund Freud Vs Eric Erikson
Conclusion
Both Freud and Erikson both agree that unconscious mind plays a very
important role in development of one’s personality. If an emotional conflict is not
resolved in a proper way, in that case it may lead to a further emotional agony which
may cause mental disorders.
In respect to the development of personality the days of childhood are very
important as during these days a child develops his personality and develops crucial
personality traits.
As we try to understand the difference in approach of the theories we can see
that Freud theory is in relation to sex or sexual behaviour of a child whereas Erickson
theory is based on the environment.

References
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