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Erik Erikson

Definition

Erik Erikson was a German-American developmental psychologist known for his theory on psychosocial development of human beings. He emphasized the social nature of our development rather than focusing solely on the psychosexual aspects.

Analogy

Think of Erikson as a video game designer who has created different levels (stages) in a game (life). Each level presents unique challenges and tasks that need to be completed before moving onto the next one.

Related terms

Psychosocial Stages: Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development that humans experience from infancy to old age, each stage marked by a specific conflict.

Identity Crisis: A period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person's sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society.

Ego Identity: The conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction according to Erikson's theory.