Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Stages

Definition

This is a theory proposed by psychologist Erik Erikson that suggests human development occurs in eight distinct, predetermined stages from infancy to late adulthood. Each stage presents a crisis or conflict which needs to be resolved for the individual to develop healthily.

Related terms

Identity vs Role Confusion:

This is one of Erikson's stages occurring during adolescence where individuals grapple with understanding their personal identity and how they fit into society.

Trust vs Mistrust: The first stage in Erikson's theory that occurs during infancy where babies learn whether or not they can trust the world around them based on their caregivers' reliability and care.

Generativity vs Stagnation: A stage in middle adulthood according to Erikson's theory where individuals focus on contributing to society and helping guide future generations or feel stagnant and unproductive.