Personalities of Eric Erikson and Carl Jung - Research Paper Example

October 21, Erikson/Jung Introduction Eric Erikson and Carl Jung both have similar theories of personality development. Both ofthese theories branch off the notion of Freud's psychoanalytic theory in explaining how the personality develops. In comparison to Freud both Erikson and Jung place less of an emphasis on sexual development in the formation of personality development. Erikson's theory of psychosocial development focuses on personality development through a series of stages. These developmental stages are either resolved or unresolved. Erikson believed that these experiences shaped personality development. In comparison to Erikson, Jung placed a higher importance on the unconscious mind. Jung believed that personality formation was due to archetypes in the unconscious mind that contributed to the development and balance of the psyche. Unconscious Mind Erikson's theory of psychosocial development places a strong emphasis on social development in conjunction with sexual factors. In contrast to Erikson, Jung believed that personality formation was shaped by memories and feelings that are stored in the individual's unconscious mind. Similar to Freud, Jung felt that there is a connection between the conscious and unconscious mind. In comparison, Erikson placed a stronger emphasis on environmental factors that affect the individuals' personality development. According to Dacy, Lennon & Kathleen (1998), "The whole (conscious and unconscious mind) then becomes an unusual believed that this process lends continuity to human existence while providing progressive advances to the human journey" (213). The Ego Similarities and Differences Both Erikson and Jung emphasized the development of the ego in different ways. Jung believed that the ego was the unconscious mind (Boeree, 2006). Erikson's theory of personality development concurs with Jung's on the notion of the ego. However, Erikson believed that parts of the ego are able to work independently of both the super ego and the id. In further, Erikson believed that the ego was able to adapt to situations. This adaptation done by the ego allows the individual to maintain mental health. Jung however, expanded Freud's notion of the unconscious mind. However, Jung renamed this concept the collective unconscious. According to Boerre (2006), "It is the reservoir of our experiences as a species, a kind of knowledge we are all born with. And yet we can never be directly conscious of it." The collective unconscious effects the way people behave as the collective unconscious stores unconscious memories and feelings. Jung observed that the collective unconscious is similar in individuals regardless of cultures. For example, near death experiences are described summarily by individuals of different cultures. In many cases people that have a near death experience describe a happy place or seeing their passed loved ones. Erikson concluded that the individual's personality was formed based upon the resolution with eight psychosocial stages of development. Through the completion of the stage which is developmentally appropriate the individual either learns to accept the task or develops neurosis. In comparison to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, Erikson believed that the personality is continuously forming. Throughout each of the eight stages a new virtue is learned. The various virtues include hope, willpower, purpose, competence, love, care, wisdom and fidelity. However, the ego is never fully developed. According to Clifton (1995), "Developing trust is the first task of the ego and it is never complete." The first task of the ego is developed in trust vs. mistrust, Erikson's first stage of psychosocial development. At the resolution of this stage the new baby will either develop trust or mistrust. Differences: Jung's Archetypes in the unconscious mind/Erikson Jung believed that people had archetypes. Archetypes are parts of the collective unconscious. Archetypes further explain the unconscious drives people experience. Jung believed that the number of archetypes could not be named. Instead people had various archetypes. However, commonly described archetypes are the mother, mana, persona, anima and the shadow. These archetypes can be compared to Erikson's psychosocial stages and the virtues obtained at the end of the concluding stage. However, the differentiation between archetypes and values learned through development are archetypes are unconscious, whereas virtues according to Erikson are learned. Further, virtues can be culturally interpreted. However, Jung's archetypes are multiculturally appropriate, for example, the archetype the mother. According to Boeree (2006), "We would never have survived without our connection with a nurturing-one during our times as helpless infants. It stands to reason that we are "built" in a way that reflects that evolutionary environment." Jung further elaborated that Archetypes are unmet unconscious demands. Jung's interpretation varies from Freud's as Freud would view archetypes as unmet sexual demands. Jung viewed the archetype the shadow as a general representation of life's primal instincts. According to Boeree (2006), "It is the "dark side" of the ego, and the evil that we are capable of is often stored there. Actually, the shadow is amoral -- neither good nor bad, just like animals." The anima/animus is the role of gender in personality development. However, Jung acknowledged that people had both masculine and feminine tendencies. From this perspective people exhibit a bi-sexual nature as neither is really completely male or female. The persona is the way people choose to show themselves to the world. The persona can take form in a good first impression, manipulating the behaviors of others or executing a false impression. In comparison Erikson would argue that these behaviors are learned. The mother as an archetype is an unconscious drive. As infants come into the world they need to be taken care of to survive. This concept is of biological nature. However, the anima/animus is learned through cultural expectations. Cultural norms teach individuals how to behave. From this individuals learn what is culturally acceptable. This can be further demonstrated by the use of other archetypes. For example the hero is an archetype that is stored in the collective unconsciousness. However, the perception of the hero may vary culturally. Erikson would argue that this perception is learned through cultural norms and that the personality is formed through psychosocial stages. Erikson's Development and the Formation of Neurosis's and Jung's Psyche Erikson believed that there were eight stages of psychosocial development. The first state is Trust vs. Mistrust. During this stage babies learn to trust the world around them through their parents. The second stage is Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt. During this developmental phase the toddler main task is toilet training. At the conclusion the toddler either learns to be toilet trained (autonomy) or this phase remains unresolved (shame). According to Boeree (2006), "Shame develops with the child's self-consciousness. Doubt has to do with having a front and back -- a "behind" subject to its own rules. Left over doubt may become paranoia." The third stage of psychosocial development correlates with Freud's Oedipus/Electra complex. This stage occurs during preschool years. According to Boeree (2006), "A residual conflict over initiative may be expressed as hysterical denial, which may cause the repression of the wish or the abrogation of the child's ego: paralysis and inhibition, or overcompensation and showing off." In further, the resolution of this phase is characterized by oppression. This oppression is in regard to the Oedipus/Electra complex. Through this oppression the child learns morals. These morals help in the formation of personality as guides for lifelong dreams. During industry vs. inferiority the child ponders his/her own self worth. Children are beginning to make observations while in school. Erikson believed that during this developmental period the child learns self-esteem. The fifth stage, identity vs. role confusion occurs during adolescents and ends during early adulthood. During this phase the young adults ponder what to do with their lives. The societal norms in the culture provide guidelines as to what the young adult is supposed to do with their lives. The adolescent/young adult is very aware of what people are thinking about them. According to Boeree (2006), "Ego identity is the accrued confidence that the inner sameness and continuity prepared in the past are matched b the sameness and continuity of one's meaning for others, as evidence in the promise of a career." The successful resolution of this stage allows the young adult to determine their role in life. This is evident in choosing a major or an occupation. However, the unsuccessful resolution of this stage leads to further role confusion. The sixth stage of Erikson's psychosocial development is intimacy vs. isolation. The main task is to find someone and settle into life or accept isolation. Isolation in this aspect is remaining single. The seventh stage, generativity vs. stagnation, focuses on helping the next generation (Schaie & Willis, 2004). This stage often takes the form in raising children from a young age until the child becomes a young adult and develops independence. The individual either develops a sense of generativity or stagnation. Stagnation in this aspect often occurs with people that do not have children. However, stagnation can be avoided by helping and guiding others. Stagnation is associated with a high level of dissatisfaction and a low productivity. The final stage is Ego vs. Despair. This stage occurs in individuals 65 and older. The individual is reflecting back upon their life. The individual either develops a sense of integrity, as he or she has successfully lived their life or a sense of despair. In comparison to Erikson's psychosocial development, Jung believed in the psyche. The psyche has three parts. As previously discussed the ego and the collective unconscious are two parts of the psyche. The third part is the personal unconscious. According to Boeree (2006), "the personal unconscious, which includes anything which is not presently conscious but can be." The personal unconscious can include feelings and/or events. Through development the individual suppresses some information. Freud believed that suppressed information led to neuroses. In comparison Erikson believed that neuroses were formed due to unresolved tasks during psychosocial development. Jung further expanded his theory on the psyche through the use of physics. The first principle of the psyche is the libido. The libido according to Jung is the opposite of the power that creates the psyche. The libido in contrast to the psyche is a strong contrast. The next principle of the psyche is the principle of equivalence. According to Boeree (2006), "The energy created from the opposition is "given" to both sides equally." This energy causes the psyche to grow and develop. However, suppressed thoughts can lead to the development of a complex in the psyche. The final principle of the development of the psyche is the principle of entropy. From this perspective Jung believed that energies come together throughout the life time. In relation to this notion Jung utilized basic physics. Jung observed basic physics and concluded that if a room was cold in one part the room would eventually become cold in all parts. Jung related this concept to the development of personality. In comparison with Erikson's psychosocial stages, Jung believed that as individuals age they become more similar. This concept is observed through different genders. Jung referred to this concept as transcendence. Erikson focused his works on observing the patterns of individuals in the later part of life reviewing their lives and determining their individual successes. Erikson further believed that the personality is constantly developing and the realization of the self is determined upon the development. From this perspective the self can never really be observed. In contrast Jung believed the main goal of life is to come to the realization of the self. However, similar to Erikson, Jung observed the different focuses of the ego throughout life. According to Boeree (2006), "When you are young, you focus on the ego and worry about the trivialities of the persona. When you are older (assuming you have been developing as you should), you focus a little deeper, on the self, and become closer to all people, all life, even the universe itself." However, Jung believed that the way to becoming a deeper more balanced person is to develop the psyche. Differences in the Use of Teleology as the Formation of Personality Erikson believed that the way to develop oneself is through teleology. Teleology is a common belief among neo-Freudians. According to Boeree (2006), "Teleology is the idea that we lead on by our ideas about a future state, by things like purpose, meanings, values and so on." Jung considered the views of both neo-Freudians and behaviorist in the formation of personality. However, Jung added another concept to the development of personality. Jung believed that synchronicity was the third determining factor in personality development. Synchronicity is the notion that two events are not linked in a casual or teleological but are meaningful and related to two concepts. Similar to Freud, Jung differed from Erikson in believing the psyche caused the development of personality detriments. Jung classified individuals as introverted or extroverted. People generally interpret Jung's concepts of introverted and extroverted as social interactions. However, Jung had a different ideology in these concepts. According to Boeree (2006), "Jung intended for them to refer more to whether you ("ego") more often faced toward the persona and outer reality, or toward the collective unconscious and its archetypes." Jung acknowledged that people had a preference towards extroversion and introversion. Regardless of this preference people needed to find ways to deal with the world. Jung believed this was done through four basic functions. The four basic functions are sensing, thinking, intuiting and feeling. In comparison Erikson would argue that these functions are developed through psychosocial development. People perceive the world through their own experiences. The experiences and the resolves of these stages effect the way the individual socializes. For example, an individual that has an unsuccessful resolve of the Trust vs. Mistrust stage of development may become more introverted. The causation of the individual to become introverted is due to the lack of trust he has developed in the world. Dichotomies The class dichotomies have caused me to evaluate my beliefs on personality development. In comparison to Erikson and Jung, I believe that behavior is determined by inner forces such as the ego. Similar to Erikson and Jung I believe that determinism is a guiding factor in how the individual's personality development. In contrast to Erikson, I acknowledge that the environment has some impact on the development of personality. However, I believe that Jung theoretical orientation of personality development is better suiting of my personal beliefs. Similar to Erikson I believe that the personality and behaviors can change throughout the individual's lifetime. People are always changing. Similar to Jung, I believe that the ego is more developed in older individuals. I believe that the advance development of the ego is due to the wisdom and experience associated with age. I believe that the individual's personality development is both contributed to biological and environmental forces. This view is not acknowledged in Erikson's psychosocial development or Jung's theory of personality development. During the time these philosophical orientations of personality development were written society did not have an advanced knowledge of science to contribute personality detriments to biological forces. In comparison to Freud, I do not believe that each personality is completely unique. In further, I do not believe that all personalities are similar in nature. Instead I believe that personality development is in-between these two factors. This notion as further illustrated by Jung's theory of personality development and in the creation of the Myer's and Briggs Typology Assessment. Although, Myers and Briggs was not developed by Jung both authors of this assessment utilized Jung's theory of personality development to determine that each individual has certain functions of their personality. Based upon these functions an individual's personality type can be determined. Both Erikson and Jung utilized parts of Freud's Psychoanalytic theory in their individualized theories of personality development. Both Erikson and Jung's philosophies on personality development utilize parts of Freud's psychoanalytic theory. Erikson and Jung both believed in the ego and the unconscious forces that drive the individual. However, Erikson focuses these unconscious forces more on psychosocial development. From Erikson's perspective individuals form personalities through the successful or unsuccessful resolve of age appropriate developmental stages. In comparison to Erikson, Jung believed that environmental factors played a role in personality development but could not be attributed for the development of the personality as a whole. Instead people repress events and feelings that are stored in their collective unconscious. Both Erikson and Jung acknowledged Freud's psychosexual stages of development in the formation of their individualized theories. However, Freud emphasized psychosexual development as a strong contributing factor to personality development. Both Erikson and Jung utilized elements of psychosexual stages in their individualized theories. In contrast, Jung acknowledged the importance of psychosexual stages but believed that these stages only played a role in the development of the psyche. References Boeree, George. Carl Jung. Shippensburg University. 2006 Web. October 22, 2010 Boeree, George. Personality Theories. Shippensburg University. 2006. Web. October 22, 2010. Dacy, John S., Lennon, Kathleen H., Fiore, Lisa B., Understanding Creativity: The Interplay of Biological, Psychological and Social Factors. John Wiley & Sons Inc. 1998. Print. Schaie, Warner K., Willis, Sherry L., Adult Development and Aging. Prentice-Hall Inc. 2004. Print Read More