Childhood and Society

Mr. Erikson wrote a thought-provoking book, but it is certainly a product of his times. Such notions as homosexuality being deviant (his word, not mine) behavior and was more of a symptom of a psychologically damaged individual has not held up to present scientific evidence. Overall, the book is a fascinating dissection of childhood development and how it possibly manifests itself in adulthood. But reading this material wasn't exactly a cake walk. I doubt many casual readers could wade through Mr. Erikson's book without developing MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over) Syndrome. For what it's worth, I enjoyed most of it.

An Uber-Classic--Required reading for anyone in psychology. No! make that anyone, period.

This book published in 1950 was Erikson's breakthrough book, the first one by which he became known to a wide popular audience. Certain of the ideas formulated in this book have become part of the language of our general culture, most notably the concept of 'identity- crisis'. At the heart of the theoretical framework of this work is Erikson's conception of eight- stages of life. The first of these stages he calls the 'oral- sensory'.It involves the conflict between basic trust and mistrust. The second is called the muscular- anal involving the confluct between Autonomy and Shame and Doubt. The third is the Locomotor Genital involving the conflict between Initiative and Guilt. The fourth is the Latent involving the conflict between Industry and Inferiority. The fifth is Adolescence where the Identity- Crisis comes into play at a time of Role- confusion. The sixth is Young Adulthood in which Intimacy is in conflict with Isolation. The seventh is Adulthood where Generativity conflicts with Stagnation. The final is 'Maturity' or "Old Age' where Despair threatens Ego Integrity. In this work Erikson brings case - history, comparitive anthropological data in showing how the human personality is transformed during the person's lifetime also through its encounters with Society . A pioneering work of great importance.

Read it just because it's a classic or read it because it has interesting things to say for today. Read it because it's so well written. The narrative just flows, and before you know it you've absorbed some pretty important concepts.Erikson addresses nothing less than the role of psychology in the world, and the role of childhood in our social worlds. It's a combination of the clinical, the social, and the developmental, a combination of psychology and history. Case studies are presented and large themes are addressed."...we are also forced to recognize a universal blind spot in the makers and interpreters of history," writes Erikson, "... they ignore the fateful function of childhood in the fabric of society" (p. 404).Whether or not you agree with all Erikson says, you will find it food for thought.