Part Two, Childhood in Two American Indian Tribes, Chapter 3, Hunters across the Prairie Summary and Analysis

Part Two turns from children to American Indians in order to study primitive child-training systems; such studies show that primitive societies are not stuck in infantile stages. In Chapter 3, Erikson begins with some historical background, focusing in South Dakota and the Oglala subtribe of the Sioux.

Erikson begins his discussion with the case of Jim, a sincere young Sioux who had partly assimilated. Jim had a wife and several children and Erikson and his staff interviewed them about stages of child life. The women in the room spoke more, sidelining Jim and showing he lacked authority. Jim's father had spent much of his time in foreign countries, leaving Jim feeling abandoned. In the next section, Erikson discusses...