Whose theory includes Erikson's eight stages of development?

• A. Psychosocial Theory
• B. Cognitive Development Theory
• C. Trait Theory
• D. Psychodynamic Theory

Answer: (A)

Erikson’s eight stages are part of psychosocial development, a theory that focuses on how social experiences and cultural expectations across the lifespan shape who we become. Each stage pairs a social-emotional challenge with a potential virtue that emerges from successfully resolving it, from trust versus mistrust in infancy to integrity versus despair in old age. This lifelong, social-contextual focus distinguishes it from cognitive development theories (which center on thinking and problem-solving), trait theories (which describe stable personality traits), and psychodynamic theories (which emphasize unconscious drives and early conflicts). In short, the eight-stage framework is best described as psychosocial development.