Erikson's Theory

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Erik Erikson, born June 15th, 1902 in Frankfurt, Germany was a developmental theorist who proposed a “comprehensive psychoanalytic theory that identifies a series of eight stages, in which a healthy developing individual should pass through from infancy to late adulthood”. After developing what is a crucial theory to revealing the developmental process of children, Erikson died on May 12th, 1994 at age 91 in Harwich, Massachusetts. His theory would later become an important contribution to the study of childhood education. Along with his theory, he wrote many books as well as won two awards including the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Award in 1970. After high school, he decided to move away in order to pursue his interest in art, …show more content…

The first four are what really shape a child into the person they will someday be. Stage one is infancy. Basically, this stage consists of trust versus mistrust. A baby either develops a trust to a parent or caregiver, or they don’t receive that connection and they grow to view the world around them as a dangerous place. This stage occurs from birth to approximately eighteen months. A child builds trust with another person when that person meets the child's needs such as changing their diaper and giving them affection. For example, if you had two children and only met one of their needs, the other would grow up believing that the rest of their life is gonna be the same way it was when they were an infant and they were not being taken care of. It will have a negative impact on their outlook on life. This stage is one of many that is crucial to the child's …show more content…

Without these stages parents and caregivers may not offer the correct care to help their child grow to be a successful, healthy adult. Children need experiences to help them decide how they are going to be unique in their own way. The other 4 stages don’t have as deep of an effect on the child as the first four do. The last four shape the small things about the child into how they are but the first four create their personality, the way they perceive the world, and the way they feel about themselves. In conclusion, Erik Erikson's theories had major impacts on the world of child development. His findings helped influence many such as Howard Gardner, Eric Berne, and Robert Coles. He died a renowned theorist whose ideas will help researchers, and people who study in the field of child development and brain growth. With all of his books, awards, and findings, Erik Erikson was a very crucial factor in the rise of the study of early childhood education and its benefits on the children of our

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