Psychoanalytic Theory-Developmental Psychology

Theories of Development: Psychoanalytic Theory (Freud and Erikson)

Developmental psychology has come up with different theories to understand the changes that people go through from birth to death. One of the most influential and comprehensive of these theories is the psychoanalytic theory. Psychoanalysis is the study of human behavior through the lens of unconscious processes, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts. Sigmund Freud got the ball rolling on this theory, and Erik Erikson took it to the next level. Now, let's take a look at how these two brilliant minds approached the study of development.

1) Sigmund Freud and the psychoanalytic theory of development

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) came up with the "Psychoanalytic Theory" to explain human development. Freud believed that the way we act is mostly driven by our subconscious needs and inner struggles. Freud says there are three parts to the personality: id, ego, and superego.

The Id, Ego, and Superego

- Id: The way it's naturally designed to make us feel good. It includes basic instincts like hunger, thirst, and wanting to have sex. They want it all now and are all about the "pleasure principle."

Your ego is basically your rational self, trying to keep things in check between what's real and what you want. It's based on the "reality principle."

The superego is basically the part of your personality that's in charge of social norms, ethical values, and conscience. It looks at the decisions made by the ego and asks if they're ethically sound.

Stages of Psychosexual Development:

As Freud said, kids get turned on by certain body parts at different ages, and they go through developmental processes related to those body parts. These stages are:

1. Oral Period (0-1 year)

- Focal Area: Mouth (sucking, biting)

- Basic Development: Trust is built through feeding.

2. Anal Period (1-3 years):

Focus Area: We're working on toilet training.

- Basic Development: Having a sense of control and independence, and knowing your personal boundaries.

3. Phallic Period (3-6 years):

- Focal Area: Private parts

- Basic Development: We've found some differences between men and women. We've also found some complexes, like the Oedipus and Elektra complexes.

4. Latent Period (6-12 Years):

- Focus Zone: You'll be able to control your sexual impulses.

- Basic Development: Social skills and intellectual development are key.

5. Genital Period (Age 12 and Over):

- Focal Zone: Sexual maturity

- Basic Development: How does sexual identity develop during puberty and what are some healthy adult relationships?

Here are some criticisms of Freud's theory:

- It's more focused on Western culture than universal.

-Explaining child development only through sexuality has been criticized.

-It's got ideas that are hard to test scientifically.

But Freud's focus on the unconscious mind has been a huge help to psychology, and it's still shaping therapy methods today.

2) Erik Erikson and his ideas about how people's psyches develop over time

Erik Erikson (1902-1994) was into Freud's theory, but he added social and cultural dimensions to it. Erikson's take on development is different from Freud's. He thought that development is a lifelong process, and there are psychosocial conflicts to be resolved in each period.

Stages of Psychosocial Development:

According to Erikson, humans go through eight basic stages of life, and each stage has its own challenges.

1. Trust versus Mistrust (0-1 years):

- Developing Basic Trust The baby learns to trust or distrust its caregiver based on how consistent they are.

2. Shame and Suspicion of Autonomy (1-3 years):

- Becoming Independent Kids learn to act on their own. When there are too many restrictions, it can make people feel ashamed.

3. Guilt versus Entrepreneurship (3-6 years):

- Exploration and Play: The child explores the environment. If it works out, you'll get a sense of entrepreneurship. If it doesn't, you'll probably feel guilty.

4. A sense of inferiority versus success (ages 6–12):

- School Life and Social Skills: Kids compare themselves to their peers. When you feel successful, it makes you feel competent. But when you feel like you're not good enough, it makes you feel like you're not worth much.

5. Identity versus Role Confusion (12-18 Years):

- The Search for Identity: Adolescents are always asking themselves, "Who am I?" If they develop a solid identity, their self-confidence will increase, otherwise they'll experience confusion.

6. People between 18 and 40 years old are often distant and not very close.

- Building relationships Young adults can have healthy romantic and social relationships or experience loneliness.

7. Productivity versus Stagnation (Age 40-65):

- Contribution to Society: The person is productive and contributes to society, or they're not.

8. Despair against Self-Integrity (Age 65 and Over):

- Life Evaluation: The older person thinks about their life. If they feel satisfied, they are peaceful; if they feel regret, they are hopeless.

Evaluations on Erikson's Theory:

-Erikson's theory that development continues throughout life has brought a great innovation, unlike Freud's.

-It's really important for social sciences to highlight how social interactions impact development.

-Some people have said that the stages are separated by strict boundaries. Some people may experience these processes at different ages.

Here are some key differences between Freud and Erikson:

1. How long does it take to develop?

Freud says that most of a person's development happens in childhood.

- Erikson: He says that development never stops, even in old age.

2. Focus:

Freud: It's all about psychosexual development, with sexual drives and inner conflicts being the main focus.

- Erikson: It's all about psychosocial development, you know, like social relationships, finding your identity, and interacting with others.

3. Number of Stages:

Freud: It's made up of five stages (Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latent, Genital).

- Erikson: There are eight stages, and each one has a psychosocial crisis.

4. Here's what a crisis looks like:

Freud: Conflicts during development are linked to sexuality and inner drives.

- Erikson: Each stage has a psychosocial crisis linked to social relationships (like trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. role confusion).

5. The Role of Parents and Society:

Freud: Family relationships and how parents act are really important.

Erikson said that, in addition to family, the social environment, school, friends, and cultural factors play an important role in development.

6. Personality Development:

Freud: Your personality is pretty much set in stone by the time you're a kid, and it's mostly permanent.

- Erikson: Your personality changes as you get older, and you can grow and mature.

7. The focus is on the unconscious:

Freud: Unconscious processes and repressed impulses are at the forefront.

- Erikson: It's all about how the mind works, but it's not too focused on the individual.

8. Universality:

Freud: He's not very open to cultural differences, since his theory is more about individual internal processes.

- Erikson: This one considers cultural and social differences, linking development to universal and social values.

Conclusion:

Freud and Erikson’s psychoanalytic approaches have been a great guide in helping us understand human development. While Freud emphasized the inner conflicts of childhood, Erikson highlighted the importance of social relationships.