Which of the following statements best summarizes Erik Erikson’s theory?

Which of the following statements best summarizes Erik Erikson’s theory?

a. Personality is formed by the time a child turns five or six years old.

b. Psychological development stops for most people at the end of adolescence.

c. Eight inevitable crises must be resolved as one moves through life.

d. Adult development is characterized by transitions and milestones.

Answer: c. Eight inevitable crises must be resolved as one moves through life.

This question focuses on Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development which defines people’s developmental process as passing through eight psychosocial stages of crises. Every stage poses a particular crisis or conflict, which if not addressed, will affect one’s personality development. Such crises may include: Trust versus mistrust in the developmental stage of infancy, The Achieving ego integrity versus despair, in the stage of late adulthood. In Erikson’s theory, the positive outcome of these crises at each phase of development results in the attainment of fundamental virtues and strengths, meaning the psychological growth of a well-adapted individual. Therefore, his theory placed a strong focus on social and cultural aspects of human lives that influence an individual’s development and personal identity during the lifetime.