I agree. My daughter has often seemed to enjoy her accomplishments for their own sake, such as sitting up for the fi rst time in her crib during infancy. What I have seen is contrary to Freud’s view...

I agree. My daughter has often seemed to enjoy her accomplishments for their own sake, such as sitting up for the fi rst time in her crib during infancy. What I have seen is contrary to Freud’s view that a child must always be “kicked upstairs” to the next stage of development, and supports Erikson’s contention that mastery affords pleasure over and apart from the satisfaction of instinctual impulses.