Comparing Freud And Erikson's Theories Of Personality

During this essay I will be looking at two behaviourist Erikson and Freud. Erikson and Freud both have their theories on the human personality. The essay will inform the reader of the two different theories as well as strengths and the weaknesses of Freud’s and Erikson’s theories on personality, including how each of them believe an individual’s personality is arranged, influenced and completed.
Erikson’s theory
Many different theories have been made on how a personality is made, developed and influenced. Erik Erikson believed that a personality is not affected by the human instinct installed inside all of us or the sexuality of an individual. Erikson believed that an individual’s personality is shaped much more by relationship formed between

the child and their parents. Erikson means that a parent’s behaviour towards/in front of their child it will affect them much more than any other factor such as sexuality. Erikson also thought a person’s personality doesn’t ever really become fully complete and it develops over a number of different psychosocial stages this ranges from an infant all the way up to old age.
Erikson believed that throughout our lives we go through stages and helps to build our personality by what we experience through those stages
During the time between the birth of a baby and the age of 1 the infants sense of hope is formed, Erikson thought that if a baby was well nurtured the infant would gain a sense of trust, hope and confidence that things would end up well, whereas an infant that hasn’t been nurtured or neglected it would cause basic mistrust and could lead onto depression, paranoia or withdrawal.
Between the age of 2 and 3 its will that is formed, Erikson believed that if a parent guided their child and gave praise, accepted attempts of independence but still remained firm the child would gain a good level of self-esteem and will to accomplish. If the parent was too hard on their child it would almost defeat them and would feel shame if they didn’t follow rules exactly. Erikson believed that a parent still had to remain firm because if they had nothing but praise the child would grow up and wouldn’t feel shame or doubt whatever action they took.
Between 4 and 5 its purpose, Erikson though that during this age the child does attempt to possess the other sex parent and has a rivalry with the parent that’s the same sex that they are, he thought that if a parent supported the child to be initiative it would make them feel like they have purpose, whereas if a child was punished for being initiative or attempts, they will likely develop a sense of quilt and even lead to inhibition. Erikson believed just like will that purpose should be contained because if it’s not controlled it can lead on to ruthlessness meaning that a person will do anything to reach their goal even if it means stepping on others to get there.
Between the age of 6 and 12 its competence, Erikson didn’t think this was a rest period for a personality to develop but to tame impulses, imagination and also please others. If a child’s parents support their child’s efforts the child will develop a good sense competence. If the parents were not supportive of their child, then feelings such as inferiority are likely to occur and can lead onto problems such as feeling helpless or inertia. If the parents are overly supportive the child will become adult to quick and would most likely leave them as a shallow person.
Between 13 and 19 its Fidelity, during this stage the teenager is attempting to create an identity, find their strengths, weaknesses, goals, sexual identity and gender roles. Throughout these teen years they are likely to try on different identities, going through a identity crisis often friends reflect who the person is. If the person is able to solve the identity crisis they will develop fidelity meaning that they will able to have friendships with very different people. If the person doesn’t manage to solve the identity crisis they develop identity diffusion, this is where the sense of self in threatened, unstable and have little identity. People like this often join cults or hate groups.
Between the age of 20-24 its love, during this stage a person is more vulnerable to romance, loving, caring and being intimate. Failure to become intimate could lead onto problems such as promiscuity where you become too close to quickly and are unable to sustain it or exclusion, rejecting relationships and those are in one.
Between the age of 25 and 64 its care, if a person has been successful or made their mark they become more concerned with the next generation and develop a sense of care. Adults that do experience success often form a sense of stagnation, self-absorbed and have little concern for others. People such as this tend to have little input into society. If someone develops a too much care they can lead to overextension where someone won’t find time for themselves.
From the age 65 and onwards wisdom is developed, this stage is experience towards the end of life. Reflecting the failures and successes, loss and age. People of with ego integrity and accept their lives if they were successful and will develop wisdom. Individuals that do not feel despair and dread death it’s too late to change their lives, if someone has too much wisdom leads to presumption.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Erikson’s theory
- Erikson's theory does not explain the altenative way for child to take out after his or her caregive have left the home.
- Erickson was a student of Sigmund Freud so all the stages about the development he developed from Sigmund theory
- Tells us more about how our personality is formed a lot more that Freud’s theory does

Freud’s theory
Sigmund Freud created the first theory of personality, Sigmund Freud believed that most of the human personality was unconscious and we have this to hide unpleasant truths from ourselves, he believed that we used this as a self defence mechanism.

Freud believed that we are driven by, beliefs, fears, memories and wishes that we are not aware that they are present. Freud came up with three concepts these are: Id, superego and ego. Sigmund Freud believed that personality is developed through 5 different psychosexual stages starting as an infant up to puberty.
Id
The id is the instinctive, primitive component of the personality. The id consists of all the inherited components of the personality. The id is the impulsive and unconscious part of physe which responses directly from our instincts. Id requires immediate satisfaction and we feel pleasure, when we are denied we experience pain or unpleased. The id is not influenced by reality or the everyday world.

Ego
Ego is developed to mediate between the id which is unrealistic id and the external real world. The ego is the decision making part of the personality. The ego operates by reason whereas the id is totally chaotic and unreasonable.
Superego
The superego is part of our personality that we use society’s moral and expectations to control the id and the instinctive impulses that come with it. We learn these morals from our parents between the age of 3 and 5 years old. The superego has 2 systems the conscience punishes the ego and make the person feel guilt, the other system is self – ideal which makes think how we should be such as how we treat people and career aspirations.
The psychosexual stages of development
Oral stage (0-1)
This is the first stage of the development where most of the libido (sexual energy) during this stage the baby finds satisfaction in putting things in their mouth. They enjoy biting, sucking and breastfeeding. Freud said that oral simulation could lead to oral fixation and people may become smokers, nail biters or thumb suckers.
Anal stage (1-3)
During this stage the infant takes pleasure defecating, toilet training is a big issue between parent and child. If the parent forces the child to become toilet training to early before the child is ready, it can cause problems when they grew up and may have disorders with messiness or cleanliness.
Phallic stage (3-6)
During this stage the sensitivity focuses on the genitals, pleasure is now achieved through the source of masturbation. In this stage the child beings to become aware of the differences between sexes this then triggers the conflict of erotic attraction, resentment, rivalry, jealousy and fear. The conflict can be resolved by the process of identification which involves the child adopting the same characteristics from the parent of the same sex.
Latency stage (6-puberty)
Freud believed that during this stage the libido becomes more dormant and is sublimated towards school, making friends and hobbies.

Most of the child’s energy is channelled towards the child’s development and gaining knowledge and skills.
Genital stage (puberty)
This is the last stage of the psychosexual development, sexual instinct is directed towards heterosexual pleasure rather than self-pleasure during the phallic stage. A resolution occurs when we settle down in and one on one relation in our 20s.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Freud’s theory
-Freud’s came up with the first theory on personality which then kicked started the field and more personality theories came up.
- Freud’s theory aloud personality disorders more easily understood and treated
- He only made case studies rather than the whole population, specifically adults and never made an observation on a child.
- Freud’s theory cannot be proven, concepts such as libido are impossible to measure therefore impossible to prove.
In conclusion Freud’s theory of personality was the first theory which did cause other theories to be made but it lacks scientific backing, whereas Erikson’s theory goes into more detailed of how our personality’s vary by our

upbringing.