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Part II    Psychodynamic Theories210
U.S.government. Erikson wasnotaCommunist, butasamatter ofprinciple herefused 
tosigntheoath. Although theCommittee onPrivilege andTenure recommended that
heretain hisposition, Erikson leftCalifornia andreturned toMassachusetts, where 
heworked asatherapist atAusten Riggs, atreatment center forpsychoanalytic 
training andresearch located inStockbridge. In1960, hereturned toHarvard and,
forthenext10years, heldtheposition ofprofessor ofhuman development. After 
retirement,  Erikson continued anactive career—writing, lecturing, andseeing afew
patients. During theearly years ofhisretirement, helivedinMarin County, California; 
Cambridge, Massachusetts; andCape Cod. Through allthese changes, Erikson contin -
uedtoseekhisfather’s name. HediedonMay12,1994, attheageof91.
Who wasErikErikson? Although hehimself maynothavebeen abletoanswer 
thisquestion, other people canlearn about theperson known asErikErikson through 
hisbrilliantly constructed books, lectures, andessays.
Erikson’s best-known works include Childhood and Society (1950, 1963, 1985); 
Young Man Luther (1958); Identity: Youth and Crisis (1968); Gandhi’s Truth (1969), 
abook thatwonboththePulitzer Prize andtheNational Book Award; Dimensions of 
a New Identity (1974); Life History and the Historical Moment (1975); Identity and the 
Life Cycle (1980); andThe Life Cycle Completed (1982). Stephen Schlein compiled 
many ofhispapers inA Way of Looking at Things (Erikson, 1987).
The Ego in Post-Freudian Theory
InChapter 2,wepointed outthatFreud usedtheanalogy ofarider onhorseback to
describe therelationship between theegoandtheid.Therider (ego) isultimately 
atthemercy ofthestronger horse (id).Theegohasnostrength ofitsownbutmust 
borrow itsenergy from theid.Moreover, theegoisconstantly attempting tobalance 
blind demands ofthesuperego against therelentless forces oftheidandtherealistic 
opportunities oftheexternal world. Freud believed that,forpsychologically healthy 
people, theegoissufficiently developed toreinintheid,eventhough itscontrol is
stilltenuous andidimpulses might erupt andoverwhelm theegoatanytime.
Incontrast, Erikson heldthatouregoisapositive force thatcreates aself-
identity, asense of“I.”Asthecenter ofourpersonality, ouregohelps usadapt tothe
various conflicts andcrises oflifeandkeeps usfrom losing ourindividuality tothe
leveling forces ofsociety. During childhood, theegoisweak, pliable, andfragile; but
byadolescence itshould begin totakeform andgainstrength. Throughout ourlife,it
unifies personality andguards against indivisibility. Erikson sawtheegoasapartially 
unconscious organizing agency thatsynthesizes ourpresent experiences withpast
self-identities andalsowithanticipated images ofself.Hedefined theegoasaper-
son’s ability tounify experiences andactions inanadaptive manner (Erikson, 1963).
Erikson (1968) identified three interrelated aspects ofego:thebody ego,the
egoideal, andegoidentity. Thebody ego refers toexperiences withourbody; away
ofseeing ourphysical selfasdifferent from other people. Wemaybesatisfied ordis-
satisfied withthewayourbody looks andfunctions, butwerecognize thatitisthe
onlybody wewilleverhave. Theego ideal represents theimage wehaveofourselves 
incomparison withanestablished ideal; itisresponsible forourbeing satisfied or
dissatisfied notonlywithourphysical selfbutalsowithourentire personal identity. 
Ego identity istheimage wehaveofourselves inthevariety ofsocial roles weplay. Final PDF to printer