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Part II    Psychodynamic Theories208
foundation forhislife-cycle approach topersonality, Erikson differed from Freud in
several respects. Inaddition toelaborating onpsychosexual stages beyond childhood, 
Erikson placed more emphasis onbothsocial andhistorical influences.
Erikson’s post-Freudian theory, likethose ofother personality theorists, isa
reflection ofhisbackground, abackground thatincluded art,extensive travels, experi -
ences withavariety ofcultures, andalifelong search forhisownidentity, which we
mentioned briefly inouropening story.
Biography of Erik Erikson
Who wasErikErikson? WasheaDane, aGerman, oranAmerican? JeworGentile? 
Artist orpsychoanalyst? Erikson himself haddifficulty answering these questions, 
andhespent nearly alifetime trying todetermine whohewas.
Born onJune15,1902, insouthern Germany, Erikson wasbrought upbyhis
mother andstepfather, butheremained uncertain ofthetrueidentity ofhisbiological 
father. Todiscover hisniche inlife,Erikson ventured away from home during late
adolescence, adopting thelifeofawandering artist andpoet. After nearly 7years of
drifting andsearching, hereturned home confused, exhausted, depressed, andunable 
tosketch orpaint. Atthistime, afortuitous event changed hislife:Hereceived aletter 
from hisfriend Peter Blosinviting himtoteach children inanewschool inVienna. 
Oneofthefounders oftheschool wasAnna Freud, whobecame notonlyErikson’s 
employer, buthispsychoanalyst aswell.
While undergoing analytic treatment, hestressed toAnna Freud thathismost 
difficult problem wassearching fortheidentity ofhisbiological father. However, 
Ms.Freud waslessthanempathic andtoldErikson thatheshould stopfantasizing 
about hisabsent father. Although Erikson usually obeyed hispsychoanalyst, hecould 
nottakeFreud’s advice tostoptrying tolearn hisfather’s name.
While inVienna, Erikson metand,withAnna Freud’s permission, married 
JoanSerson, aCanadian-born dancer, artist, andteacher whohadalsoundergone 
psychoanalysis. With herpsychoanalytic background andherfacility withtheEnglish 
language, shebecame avaluable editor andoccasional coauthor ofErikson’s books.
TheEriksons hadfourchildren: sonsKai,Jon,andNeilanddaughter Sue.Kai
andSuepursued important professional careers, butJon,whoshared hisfather’s 
experience asawandering artist, worked asalaborer andnever feltemotionally close 
tohisparents.
Erikson’s search foridentity tookhimthrough some difficult experiences dur-
inghisadult developmental stage (Friedman, 1999). According toErikson, thisstage 
requires aperson totakecareofchildren, products, andideas thatheorshehasgener -
ated. Onthisissue, Erikson wasdeficient inmeeting hisownstandards. Hefailed to
takegood careofhissonNeil, whowasbornwithDown syndrome. Atthehospital 
while Joanwasstillunder sedation, Erikagreed toplace Neilinaninstitution. Then 
hewent home andtoldhisthree older children thattheirbrother haddiedatbirth. He
liedtothem much ashismother hadliedtohimabout theidentity ofhisbiological 
father. Later, hetoldhisoldest son,Kai,thetruth, buthecontinued todeceive thetwo
younger children, JonandSue.Although hismother’s liehaddistressed himgreatly, 
hefailed tounderstand thathislieabout Neilmight laterdistress hisother children. 
Indeceiving hischildren thewayhedid,Erikson violated twoofhisownprinciples: Final PDF to printer