Theory of Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson focused on the theory of psychosocial development which is one of the theories of personality in psychology. Much like Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages. Unlike Freud's theory of psychosexual stages, Erikson's theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. 

There  is a main element in the psychosocial development stage, which is ego identity. According to Erikson, our ego identity is affected constantly according to new experiences and information we gain in our daily interactions with others. Besides, Erikson also believed that a sense of competence motivates behaviors and actions. Each stage in Erikson's theory is concerned with becoming competent in an area of life. If the stage is handled well, the person will feel a sense of mastery, which is sometimes referred to as ego strength or ego quality. If the stage is managed poorly, the person will emerge with a sense of inadequacy.

In each stage, Erikson believed people experience a conflict that serves as a turning point in development.

These are the psychosocial stages defined by Erikson:

Stage 1 - Trust Vs Mistrust

Stage 2 - Autonomy Vs Shame and doubt

Stage 3 - Initiative Vs Guilt

Stage 4 - Industry Vs Inferiority 

Stage 5 - Identity Vs Confusion

Stage 6 - Intimacy Vs Isolation

Stage 7 - Generativity Vs Stagnation

Stage 8 - Integrity Vs Despair

Source: Theory of Erik Erikson