DEVELOPMENT THEORIES

Erikson's and Freud's Theories of Development

Erikson's and Freud's Theories of Development

Erikson's Psycho-Social Theory of Development

The theory of psycho-social development by Erik Erikson is one of the greatest personality theories in psychology. Erikson believed that a person goes to different stages at different age in his life. According to the theory, an individual goes through a series of different stages from childhood to adulthood. These stages include Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, and Integrity vs. Despair (White et al, 2005). One major element of the Erikson's psycho-social theory of development is the ego identity development. According to the theory, there is a concern for being competent in different areas of life in each development stage. If the individual handles the stage well, he feels a sense of mastery which as per the theory refers to ego quality or ego strength.

Freud's Psycho-Sexual Theory of Development

The theory of psycho-sexual development by Sigmund Freud is one of the greatest theories but is also the most controversial. Initially, Freud's theory of personality development is a biologically grounded theory, and emphasized the primacy of instinctual processes, viewing human beings as passing through successive phases focus attention on different parts of the body, from oral to anal phase, phallic, and then - to the phase of orientation to the genitals. According to Freud, by the age of five, the personality of an individual almost develops. The earlier experiences of an individual influence his later life experiences (White et al, 2005). The personality of an individual develops in the first few childhood stages of his life, in which the pleasure seeking energy focuses more on the erogenous areas. Obsession or fixation occurs if some of the issues are not solved ...