Which theorist focused on psychosocial needs and proposed stages of development?

• A. Viktor Lowenfeld
• B. Erik Erikson
• C. Carl Rogers
• D. Sigmund Freud

Answer: (B)

Psychosocial development across the lifespan involves navigating social expectations and emotional growth through a series of stages, each presenting a central challenge that shapes later personality and relationships. Erik Erikson is the theorist who framed this idea, outlining eight stages from infancy to old age. In each stage, a distinct psychosocial crisis must be resolved, such as trusting caregivers in infancy or forming a coherent identity during adolescence. Successfully negotiating these crises builds a foundation of competence, healthy relationships, and a stable sense of self. This contrasts with Freud, who focused on psychosexual stages tied to bodily drives, and Rogers, who emphasized self-actualization and the therapeutic relationship rather than a fixed sequence of developmental stages. Lowenfeld, meanwhile, is known for stages of artistic development in children rather than psychosocial stages. Understanding Erikson’s theory helps explain how early social experiences reverberate throughout life and shape how we relate to others and ourselves.