ERICKSON, Eric Homberger (Erikson Erik Homburger)

(1902-1994)
Born in Frankfurt (Germany) June 15, 1902, grew up in Karlsruhe, he studied at the classical school. In 1928 he studied at the Vienna psychoanalytic institute. Shortly after graduating in 1933 moved to the United States, where he worked in Boston and at Harvard University, later moved to Yale, then at Berkeley, where he worked for over ten years. In 1960 he became a professor at Harvard University in 1968, retired. Erickson died in Harwich (pc. Massachusetts), May 12, 1994.
The first and perhaps the most famous book Erikson - Childhood and Society (Childhood and Society, 1950). Erickson emphasized the importance of adolescence and other periods in human life. From his point of view, the life cycle is determined by the sequence of crises that are resolved and are replaced by new, so that the individual realizes his opportunities. A person of any age can either be in harmony with itself, or it can tear internal contradictions. Rejecting psychological determinism, Erikson emphasized the role of a wide range of influences that determine the development not only in childhood, but in adolescence, adulthood and old age.

In his book, Luther Young (Young Man Luther, 1958) Erikson developed his theory of the formation of personal identity. The book examines the concept of 'freeze' - the period of apparent inaction, or removal, search and reflection, which young people's achievements preceded the period of maturity. Erickson considers 'identity crisis' Luther and the way in which Luther overcomes internal conflicts.

Erickson collected his essays in the book Understanding and Responsibility (Insight and Responsibility, 1964) and Identity: youth and crisis (Identity: Youth and Crisis, 1968). In 1969 published a Truth Gandhi (Gandhi's Truth) - a study of how one man became a spokesman for the independence aspirations of an entire nation. Erikson's work also includes a collection of essays and historical moment of Life (Life and the Historical Moment, . 1975), . Completed life cycle: an overview (The Life Cycle Completed: A Review, . 1982) and way of considering (A Way of Looking at Things, . 1987) - Selected articles 1930-1980.,