Observed Similarities of the Psychosexual Theories Presented by Freud and Erickson
Observed Similarities of the Psychosexual Theories Presented by Freud and Erickson
A Contrast and Comparison of Two Psychology Titans
Taylor Cope
General Psychology
Professor Ostrowsky
October 17, 2012
Observed Similarities of the Psychosexual Theories Presented by Freud and Erickson
A Contrast and Comparison of Two Psychology Titans
There have been several theorists throughout history to have experimented with psychosexual development and have shed their observations on the subject; some have even established original theoretical stages of early cognitive development. Undoubtedly two of the most important psychosexual theorists are Sigmund Freud with his five psychosexual stages of development and Erick Erickson who is known for his elaboration on Freud’s pre-existing stages. In comparison, the two psychologists share a handful of similar beliefs revolving around early cognitive development such as their descriptions of identity. Furthermore, Sigmund Freud was the first psychological thinker to introduce an interpretation of early cognitive development as a form of stages. Included in his famous five stages of psychosexual development are the oral stage, the anal stage, the phallic stage, the latent stage and the genital stage. The oral stage describes an infant in its first year or two of life and how the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth, so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially important. The anal stage occurs next and focuses on the child’s toilet training. The objective behind the child’s ambition to learn to control his or her bodily needs is to achieve a sense of accomplishment and independence through self-control. The child then experiences the phallic stage where the primary focus of the libido is on the genitals while children also begin to discover the differences between males and females. Immediately following the phallic stage is the latent stage in which libido interests are no longer present
A Contrast and Comparison of Two Psychology Titans
Taylor Cope
General Psychology
Professor Ostrowsky
October 17, 2012
Observed Similarities of the Psychosexual Theories Presented by Freud and Erickson
A Contrast and Comparison of Two Psychology Titans
There have been several theorists throughout history to have experimented with psychosexual development and have shed their observations on the subject; some have even established original theoretical stages of early cognitive development. Undoubtedly two of the most important psychosexual theorists are Sigmund Freud with his five psychosexual stages of development and Erick Erickson who is known for his elaboration on Freud’s pre-existing stages. In comparison, the two psychologists share a handful of similar beliefs revolving around early cognitive development such as their descriptions of identity. Furthermore, Sigmund Freud was the first psychological thinker to introduce an interpretation of early cognitive development as a form of stages. Included in his famous five stages of psychosexual development are the oral stage, the anal stage, the phallic stage, the latent stage and the genital stage. The oral stage describes an infant in its first year or two of life and how the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth, so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially important. The anal stage occurs next and focuses on the child’s toilet training. The objective behind the child’s ambition to learn to control his or her bodily needs is to achieve a sense of accomplishment and independence through self-control. The child then experiences the phallic stage where the primary focus of the libido is on the genitals while children also begin to discover the differences between males and females. Immediately following the phallic stage is the latent stage in which libido interests are no longer present