Psychological Development

The theory of psychosocial development is one of the best-known theories of personality in psychology. Much like Sigmund Freud, Erickson believed that personality develops in a series of stages. Unlike Freud’s theory of psycho-sexual stages, Erickson’s theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan.

One of the main elements of Erickson's psychosocial stage theory is the development of ego identity.1 Ego identity is the conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction. According to Erickson, our ego identity is constantly changing due to new experience and information we acquire in our daily interactions with others. In addition to ego identity, Erickson also believed that a sense of competence also motivates behaviors and actions. Each stage in Erickson'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 he sometimes referred to as ego strength or ego quality.2 If the stage is managed poorly, the person will emerge with a sense of inadequacy.

In each stage, Erickson believed people experience a conflict that serves as a turning point in development. In Erickson’s view, these conflicts are centered on either developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. During these times, the potential for personal growth is high, but so is the potential for failure.