Formation of Identity
High-Yield Summary
- Freud's psychosexual development: 5 stages driven by libido, resolved almost entirely in early childhood — oral (0-1), anal (1-3), phallic/Oedipal (3-5), latency, genital (puberty on). Fixation (overindulgence/frustration in a stage) produces a lasting personality pattern.
- Freud's claim that 'incorrect' genital-stage resolution causes homosexuality/asexuality/fetishism is his own historical theory, not current scientific understanding — know it as what Freud claimed, not established fact.
- Erikson's psychosocial development: 8 social crises spanning the entire lifespan (trust vs. mistrust → integrity vs. despair), each with a favorable/unfavorable outcome. Mastering a stage isn't required to move on.
- Kohlberg's moral reasoning: 3 phases/6 stages, classified by the reasoning behind a moral choice (tested via the Heinz Dilemma), never by the choice itself — preconventional (punishment/reward) → conventional (approval/law) → postconventional (social contract/universal ethics).
- Vygotsky: cognitive development driven by internalizing culture. Zone of proximal development = skills not yet independent but achievable with help from a more knowledgeable other (MKO).
- Identity also shaped by others: imitation (parents → siblings/teachers/media → peers by adolescence), role-taking (Mead — practicing identities through play), theory of mind (Premack & Woodruff), looking-glass self (Cooley — identity shaped by imagined judgments of others), reference group (Hyman — comparison standard).
Key Terms
- Fixation
- Personality pattern that persists into adulthood from overindulgence/frustration during a Freudian psychosexual stage.
- Zone of proximal development
- Vygotsky's concept: the gap between what a child can do alone and what they can do with help from a more knowledgeable other.
- Role-taking
- George Herbert Mead's concept: children practicing other identities through play (e.g., playing house).
- Theory of mind
- Premack & Woodruff's term for the ability to sense how another person's mind works.
- Looking-glass self
- Charles Horton Cooley's concept: personality develops from imagined judgments others hold of us.
- Reference group
- Herbert Hyman's term for the specific comparison group a person's self-concept is measured against.
Freud's Five Psychosexual Stages
- 1Oral (0-1 yr): gratification from mouth — biting, sucking, putting objects in mouth.
- 2Anal (1-3 yrs): gratification from elimination/retention of waste.
- 3Phallic/Oedipal (3-5 yrs): Oedipal conflict (males) / Electra conflict + penis envy (females); resolved by identifying with same-sex parent and sublimating libidinal energy.
- 4Latency: libido sublimated; lasts until puberty.
- 5Genital: puberty through adulthood; healthy heterosexual relationship per Freud's original theory (now scientifically unsupported claim).
Erikson's Eight Psychosocial Stages
- 1Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 yr).
- 2Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3 yrs).
- 3Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 yrs).
- 4Industry vs. Inferiority (6-12 yrs).
- 5Identity vs. Role Confusion (12-20 yrs).
- 6Intimacy vs. Isolation (20-40 yrs).
- 7Generativity vs. Stagnation (40-65 yrs).
- 8Integrity vs. Despair (65+ yrs).
Freud vs. Erikson
| Freud | Erikson |
|---|---|
| Biological, libido-driven | Social, crisis-driven |
| Resolved almost entirely in early childhood | Spans the entire lifespan into old age |
| Each stage tied to a specific bodily zone | Each stage tied to a social crisis |
Common MCAT Trap
- A scenario about an adult's identity crisis (career stagnation, fear of death) is Erikson's territory — Freud's stages don't extend past adolescence.
- Kohlberg's stage is identified by the reasoning behind a moral choice, never by the choice itself — two people can reach the same verdict via very different stages of reasoning.
- Zone of proximal development is the gap between independent ability and help-assisted ability — not simply a skill the child altogether lacks.
- Role-taking (active practice through play) is distinct from theory of mind (the broader cognitive capacity to understand others have their own minds).
Quick Recall
A middle-aged adult feels bored, self-indulgent, and unproductive. Which Erikson stage/unfavorable outcome?
Two people both say Heinz should steal the medicine, one because he won't get caught, the other because life outweighs property rights. Same or different Kohlberg stage?
A child can solve a puzzle only with a parent's guidance, not alone. What does Vygotsky call this gap?
Which concept describes a person's identity forming around imagined judgments others hold of them?
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