Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory

Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory suggests that people go through eight stages in life, each involving a key challenge that influences their personality and social skills. These challenges range from trust versus mistrust in infancy to identity versus role confusion in adolescence, and integrity versus despair in old age. Successfully navigating each stage helps individuals develop important qualities like confidence, independence, and wisdom. If they struggle, it can lead to difficulties in future stages. This theory emphasizes that social and emotional growth is a lifelong process, shaped by experiences and relationships at different ages.