Erikson versus Maslow: A Comparison of their theories and View

Introduction

The field of personality psychology has been dedicated to investigating and interpreting these differences. Theories of personality represent broad hypotheses and speculation about why individuals behave as they do. Two of the most widely recognized personality psychology scholars are Erik Erikson and Abraham Maslow. These two luminaries have made significant contributions to the field, which have played a crucial role in the understanding of the human nature as well as the diversity and complexity of the whole person functioning in the real world. This paper will compare and contrast their theories and views, as it pertains to human nature.

Part A: Erikson versus Maslow

In his theory, Erik Erikson broadened the study of human development to encompass an eight stage epigenetic theory. His eight stages were drawn from Sigmund Freud’s assertions on the psychoanalysis of human development. Erikson suggested that, as humans, we carry the psychological effects of early childhood experiences or crises for the remainder of our lives. This view is similar to an earlier Freud’s theory, which had posited that childhood experiences strongly influence our later life behaviors, especially during adulthood. However, Erikson went further by proposing that there are various stages of in our development. These stages manifest at different ages. How a person deals with these crises will reflect his or her nature in their adult life. Erikson noted that the eight stages of development affect a person’s overall sense of wellbeing since it reconciles their internal conflicts and crises as they emerge. The inner crises arise from the different kinds of relationships that we form at different stages in our growth (Ogbebor 160). Meanwhile, the conflicts are based on standards created by individuals in comparison to others within the society.

Erikson’s epigenetic theory originates from the initial fetal growth of human beings. It has several parts that put together the psyche of individuals as they grow into mature people. Once a person resolves his/her inner conflicts, they become mentally healthy. As a result, they will develop a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing. Erikson believed that behavior and personality traits originate from the psychosocial process at each stage of life. His eight stages are:
Trust vs. mistrust (0 – 1 year old)
Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (1 – 3 years old)
Initiative vs. guilt (3 – 5 years old)
Industry vs. inferiority (7 – 12 year old)
Identity vs. role confusion (12 – 18 year old)
Intimacy vs. isolation (18 – 20 years old)
Generatively vs. stagnation (20 to 50 years old)
Integrity vs. despair- 60 years and above (Rahgozar 99)

Abraham Maslow’s holistic and humanistic approach to personality psychology recognizes the two primary tendencies of survival and actualization (Konrad et al. 106). Maslow argued that the survival tendency of personality is connected to the basic needs, which are constant and fundamental and thus must be sufficiently gratified for the healthy functioning of a human being. He adds that when these needs are not satisfied, an individual will develop psychopathological symptoms. In his seminal works, he arranged basic needs hierarchically such that physiological needs were placed at the bottom while safety needs (such as security, structure, and stability) were placed at the second level. Needs of love and belongingness-such as acceptance, intimacy, relationships, and roots- are ranked on the third level. Needs of esteem are placed fourth (Melinte 149). There are two sets of esteem needs. One set encompasses the desire for achievement, strength, competence and adequacy while the other encompasses desire for status, recognition and prestige.

Maslow’s need hierarchy is founded on the theory of relative prepotency, which posits that lower level needs have to be met and satisfied before higher level ones become motivationally dominant (Runes et al. 576). He acknowledged that there are individual exemptions to this arrangement. In addition, later needs might arise even before earlier needs are gratified in full. In fact, he relates higher ranked needs to lover levels of satisfaction. His model of needs hierarchy is as follows:
Physiological needs
Safety needs
Belonging needs
Esteem needs
Self actualization
Scholars have noted that there is a dialectic tension between the powers of regression and growth. As a result, very few people meet Maslow’s criteria for self actualization. Still, this stage remains the objective of any human being.
Erikson and Maslow’s theories have played an important role in the study of human nature. Even though Erikson’s perception follows human growth from infancy, it indirectly mirrors Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. During infancy (at the trust versus mistrust stage), a person develops a sense of trust and security from the routine of care that is provided by those immediately around him/her. Through the repeated provision of needs such as food, clothing, and other basic needs, a baby will become comfortable with the environment. Demonstrations of care and love will further extend the sense of comfort. Erikson argued that the quality of the relationship, as opposed to the quantity of food or amount of care, has the most significant effect on an infant’s sense of wellbeing. This will eventually influence the development of their personality type. At this stage, the way a child is nurtured will enhance his sense of expectation of the society (Good 230).

When a child is neglected or abandoned or when his/her basic needs are not met, they will experience an internal crisis state of mistrust towards those in their environment. This will lead to a loss in the sense of wellbeing. Consequently, will develop a withdrawal response, which will be evidenced in depressive demeanor. This may lead to problems such as schizophrenia in later life if it not rectified.
Erikson’s lowest stage of trust and mistrust is closely connected to Maslow’s lowest ranked physiological needs. At any stage in a person’s life, he/she would want needs such as food, water, air to breathe and a conducive atmosphere for living. Maslow argued that an individual must fulfill these needs before finding the motivation to seek the fulfillment of the other needs. On his part, Erikson’s placement of trust versus mistrust at the first stage, immediately after birth, is a clear indicator that everyone must go through the phase before experiencing anything else. This is similar to Maslow’s view, even if it extends the infancy stage.

Erikson’s next four stages are concerned with the quest for safety, self-discovery, and acceptance. As a child grows, he/she normally becomes more inquisitive about the environment. The freedom to explore the surrounding independently is an inherent desire that builds self-confidence. Erikson wrote that the first evidence for this is when a child takes his/her first step. However, they will need something to hold on for stability. This will come in the form of assistance from parents or those close to them. Due to the trust built in the first stage, a child will occasionally ignore the assistance so that stand and walk on his/her own. With time, they will be able to do so on their own. Through this way, they will develop a sense of confidence and wellbeing, even as they desire for more autonomy in their lives. During childhood and adolescence, a person will need the constant support of those around them (Dreeben-Irimia 246). As humans grow and learn, they identify heroes and set initiatives to emulate them. This helps them develop a sense of purpose in their lives. Repeated success in their endeavors builds their confidence.

Under ordinary circumstances, a child or young adult who makes repeated mistakes during his/her developmental stages may feel discouraged, belittled or shamed. This will make them to lose their pride and feeling of being loved. A series of inner crises will ensue, essentially damaging the image they have of themselves in relation to others. Erikson argues that they will seek ways to boost their ego so that they do not feel unimportant. However, this sense of shame will remain in their psyche, thereby influencing their decisions. To avoid such scenarios, he advises that everyone should be allowed to exercise their creative energy from a young age. However, they also need constant support. This will help them discover themselves. This will prevent them from feeling inadequate in relation to their peers.
After the satisfaction of physiological needs, Maslow proposed that individuals seek safety needs. These come in the form of physical security, protection, dependency, and freedom from forces such as anxiety, fear, danger, chaos, or natural disasters. He acknowledges that these needs cannot be overly satisfied since events such as flooding, fires, or sandstorms. While most adults can satisfy their safety needs easily, children cannot. This is because they fear forces such as darkness, animals, and strangers. Just like Erikson, Maslow says that children will overcome these fears if they receive support from those in their environment. The next stage of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, love, and belongingness is closely related to Erikson’s identity versus identity role confusion stage (the 5th stage). People naturally desire to belong to a family or a society so that they can be identified in a group. This explains why many people succumb to peer pressure since they do not want to look out of place.

Human beings naturally seek ways of boosting their ego and self-esteem. For example, a person will seek intimate relationships (Erikson’s 6th stage), a family (7th stage), and fulfillment in life (8th stage). During these stages, a person will concentrate on overcoming the fear of ego loss. Erikson argued that in the last stage, individuals reflect on their experiences during the preceding stages. A person who feels a deep sense of fulfillment may be deemed to have reached the self-actualization stage.
Part B: Development of Oprah Winfrey’s Personality
1954: Oprah is born to Vernon Winfrey and Vernitta Lee
1954-1960: Lived with her grandmother, on a farm
1960: Moves to Wisconsin to live with her mother.
1963: Claims of molestation by her uncle and family friend
1967: Went to Nicolet High School
1968: Ran away from home to the street.
1968: Gave birth to a baby boy who died shortly afterwards. She was then forced to live with her strict father
1972: Won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant.
1972: She was hired to do news part time by a local black radio station.
1973: Graduated from Tennessee State University, attaining a degree in Speech and Performing Arts. She was employed as a news reporter by WVTF TV.
1976: Moved to WJZ TV in Baltimore to anchor the 6 pm news.
1978: Was recruited as co-host of WJV talk show People are Talking.
1983: Moved to Chicago’s WLS TV to host a morning talk show called AM Chicago.
1984: Her show became the highest rated talk show in Chicago. It was renamed the Oprah Winfrey Show.
1985: Co-starred in Spielberg’s film ‘The Color Purple’.
1988: Named the broadcaster of the year
1991: Testified before Congress, thereby initiating the National Child Protection Act.
1992: Engaged to Stedman Graham
1994: Won the best talk show and best talk show host awards
1995: Repeated the above feats for the second year in a row
Late 1990s: Co-authored several books
2002: Became the first recipient of the Bob Hope humanitarian award for services to television and film
2004: Was named the first black woman billionaire.
2005: Named the greatest woman in the history of the United States. Polled 9th in the public vote of greatest Americans ever.
2006: Established a new radio station
2007: Opened a girls’ only school in Johannesburg, South Africa. She received praise from Nelson Mandela for her efforts (Garson xix – xxv).
2011: Launched her own cable network called the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
2012: She premiered Oprah’s Next Chapter.
Explaining Oprah’s development of Personality

Oprah’s life as a toddler cannot be precisely described owing to the fact that she was not born in a famous family. However, since she lived with her grandmother, it can be assumed that she received all the attention, caring and support she needed as an infant. Therefore, she encountered her first major drawback at the age of nine when her uncle and a close friend to the family started abusing her. Oprah was denied her safety needs. In addition, she was made to feel inadequate, which led her to develop an inferiority complex. Since the people she was supposed to trust had betrayed, Oprah probably felt the absence of love and belongingness in her life. Failure to identify with her family took a toll on her. Consequently, she was forced to run from her home. Perhaps in the quest to find love and the sense of belongingness, Oprah was forced to trust strangers. This ultimately resulted in her falling pregnant. Unfortunately, her child died. These experiences have affected her up to this day such that he has refused to marry or get children of her own.
Oprah’s life and personality changed only after she was taken to live with her father, a strict disciplinarian. Her father provided the conditions that would lead to the fulfillment of safety and love needs. It is also during this period that she reclaimed her identity. This resulted in her excelling in her academics. Her other accomplishments built her self-confidence and self-esteem. This enabled her to impress as a journalist. Further success led to her establishing the Oprah Winfrey Show, whose popularity worldwide elevated her standing worldwide.

Conclusion
One of the most pressing riddles since the beginning of recorded history is the “what kind of beings are we?” Even though numerous avenues have been explored, and an extensive variety of concepts suggested, a satisfactory answer to this riddle has not been found. The main reason for this is the fact that no two individuals, including identical twins, are exactly alike. Since humans behave in so many complex ways, there are so many social, psychological, physical and genetics differences to be accounted for such that studying the human nature usually comes short. However, this has not deterred the field of personality psychology from exploring these differences. At present, the desire to understand human nature is more urgent than ever. This is because of global unrest, huge population explosion, racial prejudice and ecological pollution. All these factors affect the way people carry themselves out.
Both Maslow and Erikson posited that humans develop in stages in a systematic way. To thrive in a given stage, a person must have passed the previous stage successfully. During the first stage, all humans quest for the satisfaction of basic needs. These include food, clothing, care and comfort. Afterwards, they will desire for safety. As we grow, our definitions for safety changes. However, there are some safety needs that cannot be overly satisfied. Once these needs are met, a person will seek love and identity within the society. This will later determine his/her level of self-esteem. Despite their different approaches, the indirect convergence of these two theories suggest that finding an appropriate answer to the riddle is in future is not a farfetched objective.

Works Cited
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