About Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson (1902-1994) was a German native who came to the United States in the 1930s as a child analyst. Erikson believed that personality develops throughout a lifetime. He found children to be complex and resilient, developing in the context of society’s expectations and prejudices. (erikson.edu)
Erikson’s best known contribution is his Developmental Theory, which states that a person travels through eight stages from infancy to adulthood. At each stage, the individual faces a conflict between his own psychological needs and those of society.
Erikson’s Developmental Theory is summarized in this chart:
Additional Resources:
- Erikson Institute official website
- Detailed explanation of each developmental stage
- Article: Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
- Video: 8 Stages of Development by Erik Erikson
- Video: Disney Pixar and Erikson’s Eight Stages
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Josie is an early childhood educator turned children’s librarian from Kansas City, MO. When she’s not promoting play and early literacy, she loves to spend time with her family and travel. During her rare moments of free time, you can find Josie curled up with a cat and a good book. Feel free to reach out to her with early literacy questions or ask for book recommendations.
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