Bruno Bettelheim and psychosocial developmentThe psychological aspect of the human mind is one of the most mysterious and unpredictable entities known to man. Bruno Bettelheim is an Austrian-born American child psychologist and writer who has gained international recognition for his unabashed opinions on the psychological development of children. Bettelheim firmly believed that fairy tales help shape the child's unconscious and conscious mind and the child's entire psyche as a whole. Furthermore, Bettelheim also believed that fairy tales aid the child in finding an identity and meaning in life. As a child psychologist who dealt with problem children every day, Bettelheim cared deeply about children and tried to educate others about fairy tales that would allow a child to deal with his inner problems because he was dissatisfied with much of the literature exposed to children. (Zip). On the other hand, Erik Erikson, a psychoanalyst with a doctorate in child psychology, has gained international recognition for his theory on human development. Erikson's theory suggests that at every stage of life, from early childhood to puberty, there is a psychological struggle that a child must overcome to successfully develop a stable personality and mature in a positive way (“Erik Erikson”). Through Erik Erikson's psychosocial development, Bruno Bettelheim's care towards children and the fundamental belief in The Uses of Enchantment that fairy tales enable children to overcome psychological problems by understanding their conscious and unconscious selves can be accredited by observing the three most important phases in Erikson's theory. Bettelheim believed that the mental condition of autism is passed on to children because of......middle of paper......conscious selves can be accredited by looking at the three most important stages in Erikson's theory. Although the psychological aspect of the human mind is seen as intriguingly mysterious, a child's mind is even more mysterious in the sense that it can seemingly develop endlessly. Works Cited Andersen, David C. "Erik Homburger Erikson: Biographical Essay." Biographical Resource Center. Storm. Network. March 5, 2010. "Erik Erikson." Biographical Resource Center. Gale, 1988. Web. March 11, 2010. Heisig, James W. “Bruno Bettelheim and Fairy Tales.” Literary Resource Center. Gale, 1994. Web. 11 February 2010. Tartaro, Maria. Classic fairy tales. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1999. Print.Zipes, Jack. “On the Use and Abuse of Fairy Tales and Fairy Tales with Children: Bruno Bettelheim's Moralistic Magic Wand.” Literary Resource Center. Gale, 1979. Web. 11 March. 2010.