Egopsykologian

Egopsykologia, often translated as ego psychology, is a school of psychoanalytic thought that emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century. It shifted the focus of psychoanalytic theory from the id and its primal drives to the ego and its functions. Key figures associated with this approach include Anna Freud, Heinz Hartmann, and Erik Erikson.

Central to ego psychology is the idea that the ego is not merely a passive mediator between the id's desires and the superego's demands, but rather an active and independent psychic agency. It possesses its own drives and motivations, and its primary role is adaptation to the external world. This includes functions like perception, memory, thinking, and reality testing. Ego psychologists emphasized that the ego develops and strengthens through interactions with the environment, and that its successful functioning is crucial for mental health.

Erik Erikson, in particular, expanded ego psychology by proposing a theory of psychosocial development across the entire lifespan. He identified eight stages, each characterized by a specific psychosocial crisis that individuals must resolve. The successful resolution of these crises contributes to the development of a healthy ego identity. While rooted in Freudian concepts, ego psychology broadened the scope of psychoanalytic inquiry, acknowledging the importance of social and cultural factors in personality development and mental functioning.