Critically evaluate view point of Erik Erickson regarding psycopathology

Critically evaluate view point of Erik Erickson regarding psycopathology. 

Erik Erickson has extended the different concepts of Freud. He was a Danish-American psychoanalyst known for his theory on social development of human beings and he was most famous for his work on identity crises. Erikson’s model of psychosocial development is a very important and meaningful concept. Erikson believed that his psychosocial principle is genetically unavoidable in shaping human development. It occurs in all people. He also referred to his theory as 'epigenesis' and the 'epigenetic principle’, that development goes through series of stages (From Vital Involvement in Old Age, 1989). Like the other entire psychoanalysts, Erickson also had to face criticism on his theory on social development of human beings. There was some positive as well as some negative points that were criticized by the critiques of his time.

Some positives are as Erikson had extended some concepts of Freud, there was no doubt that he was influenced by Freud but in his theory of psychosocial development he had significantly included cultural and social aspects into Freud's biological and sexually oriented theory. Erikson was able to do this because of his strong interest and concern for people, especially young people, and his research was mostly done on human societies. (Erik and Joan Erikson 1950-97) For example, in the third stage of Freud he talks about the sexual attraction of a child towards the opposite sex parent and according to him if this conflict was not resolved by the parents then it will lead to future anxieties that might be a pathology in the later life of a child but on the other hand Erickson opposes this and said that in this particular time period basic task of a child is to achieve a sense of competence and initiative. Child wants freedom and if he/she doesn’t get that it will lead to dependency on others decision.

                                                                                                                           Secondly Erickson’s view is that the social environment and biological maturation provide each individual with a set of "crises" that must be resolved. The results of the resolution, whether successful or not, are carried forward to the next crisis and provide the foundation for its resolution. This is different from other theories such as Piaget's theory of cognitive development or Maslow's theory of human needs where the level must be satisfactorily addressed before one can move on to the next level. (Woolfolk & McCune-Nicolich. (1984)). For example, in the age limit from 6-12 child wants to explore world and needs to learn the basic skills required for school success and wants a sense of industry but if he fails to do so then it results in a sense of inadequacy in the child and if not resolved then it will turn to a pathology.                                                                  

 His most work ws done on adolescence and their attempts to establish identity. His theoretical approach was studied and supported, particularly regarding adolescence, by James E. Marcia.Marcia's work has distinguished different forms of identity, and there was  some empirical proof that those people who form the most rationale self-concept in adolescence are those who are most able to make intimate attachments in early adulthood. This supports Eriksonian theory, in that it suggests that those best prepared to resolve the crisis of early adulthood are those who have most successfully resolved the crisis of adolescence .( Marcia, J. E., (1966)).

Other psychologist in many ways also negatively criticized Erickson. Erickson was highly criticized on his theory of adolescence identity crises. A number of studies have been undertaken. Some people had supported his theory of identity crises as done by Marcia but on the other hand it was criticized by other people .For example, Meilman (1979), carry out a cross-sectional study on 12-24 years old males. It was discovered that just over half of the subjects had reached identity realization at 24 years. Therefore this shows that identity achievement must go on into adulthood. O’Connell (1976) found similar patterns when he carried out interviews with married women who had school age children. These women described how their identity became more apparent to themselves as they progressed though their life, from getting married, to finding a job, to having children. These findings suggest that identity development is not so strongly focused in adolescence, as Erickson believes.                                                                                                             

Eriksson’s psychosocial model is much generalized and he himself recognized that no effort was made to trace the differences in ego development between the sexes. (Stevens 1983), For example he had not defined the clear line of pathology between male and female, for him the developmental stages of males and females are same.                                                 

Thirdly Erikson's theory were questioned as to whether his stages must be considered as sequential, and only occurring within the age ranges he suggests. There is debate as only during the adolescence people only search for identity or if one stage needs to happen before other stages can be completed.( Sheehy, Gail. E. P. Dutton, 1976)