58 pages • 1 hour read
Erik EriksonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Erikson defines ego identity as the sense of self that humans develop through the processes of social interaction. In his words, there is a “mutual contract between the individual and society” (164). This mutual contract proceeds according to the epigenetic principle, in which the developing child’s innate plan for growth helps them to create the series of potential social interactions needed for personality development. At every stage of development, the community supports the growing individual by presenting a hierarchy of roles appropriate to a particular stage.
The interplay between the individual and society reaches its acute “identity crisis” in Erikson’s fifth stage of personality development, Adolescence. The crisis or turning point in this stage is the search for constancy, loyalty, and trust. The psychosocial moratorium may be required to allow the young person to reconcile their physical, sexual, and emotional/intellectual growth with the roles offered by society. The growth itself, however, provides new energy for coping with new experiences.
Society is always changing and will continue to do so. These changes can be damaging to the developing individual, as for the “reeducated” Sioux children who could no longer measure their physical growth against their cultural expectations.
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Colonialism & Postcolonialism
View Collection
Coming-of-Age Journeys
View Collection
Community
View Collection
Education
View Collection
Jewish American Literature
View Collection
Pride Month Reads
View Collection
Self-Help Books
View Collection
Sociology
View Collection