8 stage theory erik erikson biography summary

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book. Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist who developed one of the most popular and influential theories of development.

Erik erikson 8 stages

While his theory was impacted by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's work , Erikson's theory centered on psychosocial development rather than psychosexual development. The stages that make up his theory are as follows:. Let's take a closer look at the background and different stages that make up Erikson's psychosocial theory. At the end of this article, take a fast and free pop quiz to see how much you know about Erikson's stages of development.

So what exactly did Erikson's theory of psychosocial development entail? Much like Sigmund Freud , Erikson believed that personality developed in a series of stages. Unlike Freud's theory of psychosexual stages, however, Erikson's theory described the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. Erikson was interested in how social interaction and relationships played a role in the development and growth of human beings.

Erikson's theory was based on what is known as the epigenetic principle. This principle suggests that people grow in a sequence that occurs over time and in the context of a larger community. This video has been medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD. Each stage in Erikson's theory builds on the preceding stages and paves the way for following periods of development.

In each stage, Erikson believed people experience a conflict that serves as a turning point in development. In Erikson's view, these conflicts are centered on either developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. During these times, the potential for personal growth is high but so is the potential for failure.