Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Development

Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Development describe how people grow and change throughout life. Each stage presents a key challenge or conflict that influences their personality. For example, young children learn trust when caregivers meet their needs, while teenagers develop identity by exploring who they are. Adults face challenges like intimacy or making a difference, and older adults reflect on life’s meaning. Successfully resolving these conflicts leads to healthy traits, while difficulties can cause issues later on. Overall, Erikson's theory shows that personal growth happens in predictable phases, shaped by social relationships and experiences.