Identity

Fülszöveg

Erik Erikson, author of the much-discussed Young Man Luther, is Professor of Humán Development and Lecturer on Psychology at Harvard University, and a leading figure in his field. Since the appearance of his earlier book, in which he related Luther's crisis of identity to the contemporary historical crisis, the whole concept of identity has acquired a much wider significance, being seen as the concern of sociologists and historians as well as of psychologists. Recent years in particular have seen an increasing number of young people playing out problems of'identity confusion', often on a large and dramatic scale. Interpretation poses difficulties since the problem is both all-pervasive and hard to grasp, 'located' as it is in both the core of the individual and the core of his communal culture; moreover it must be viewed in the light of rapid historical change. Professor Erikson examines prolonged and aggravated identity crises-basing his originál observations upon clinical... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Erik Erikson, author of the much-discussed Young Man Luther, is Professor of Humán Development and Lecturer on Psychology at Harvard University, and a leading figure in his field. Since the appearance of his earlier book, in which he related Luther's crisis of identity to the contemporary historical crisis, the whole concept of identity has acquired a much wider significance, being seen as the concern of sociologists and historians as well as of psychologists. Recent years in particular have seen an increasing number of young people playing out problems of'identity confusion', often on a large and dramatic scale. Interpretation poses difficulties since the problem is both all-pervasive and hard to grasp, 'located' as it is in both the core of the individual and the core of his communal culture; moreover it must be viewed in the light of rapid historical change. Professor Erikson examines prolonged and aggravated identity crises-basing his originál observations upon clinical experience-among young people with marked psychiatric problems, creative people and alienated groups. He demonstrates that this identity crisis is an extension of what is in fact a normál stage of humán life. He alsó makes the point that when identity problems are recognized as part of the issue between generations, they alsó appear central to historical processes and to sociological evolution. Professor Erikson concludes that the crisis of identity and its resolution is a necessary stage in both individual and collective development. Moreover it allows the individual not only to acquire a more inclusive identity but alsó to transcend it. Vissza