Erikson’s Thought in Context

Abstract Whenever Erikson considered the patients in his care or the subjects of his psychohistorical biographies or essays, he was careful to place them in the context of their lives and times. We owe him no less. The bulk of Erikson’s writings spans the years 1936 to 1984, nearly a half century during which his adopted America changed significantly and Erikson himself developed from late young adulthood to old age. That social context is important to his thought, for it anchors his work. But his early life was an enduring influence on him as well. A sensitive, deeply reflective, and introspective man, early sources of confusion remained with him throughout his life as a sub-stratum of his thought and searching.