Which theorist is associated with eight stages of life that shape personality?

Which theorist is associated with eight stages of life that shape personality?

• A. Erik Erikson
• B. Abraham Maslow
• C. Carl Jung
• D. Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Answer: (A)

This question centers on Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. He proposed eight stages across the lifespan, each with a central psychosocial crisis. How you navigate and resolve these crises—such as trust vs mistrust in infancy, autonomy vs shame, identity vs role confusion, and integrity vs despair in later life—helps shape your personality and social abilities over time. That focus on a lifelong sequence of eight stages is why Erikson is the correct association. Other thinkers include Maslow, who emphasized a hierarchy of needs driving motivation; Jung, who highlighted archetypes and the process of individuation; and Kubler-Ross, who described five stages of grief. None of these present a fixed eight-stage framework that shapes personality across the entire life span.

This question centers on Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. He proposed eight stages across the lifespan, each with a central psychosocial crisis. How you navigate and resolve these crises—such as trust vs mistrust in infancy, autonomy vs shame, identity vs role confusion, and integrity vs despair in later life—helps shape your personality and social abilities over time. That focus on a lifelong sequence of eight stages is why Erikson is the correct association.

Other thinkers include Maslow, who emphasized a hierarchy of needs driving motivation; Jung, who highlighted archetypes and the process of individuation; and Kubler-Ross, who described five stages of grief. None of these present a fixed eight-stage framework that shapes personality across the entire life span.