What key concept does Erikson's theory primarily focus on?

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development primarily focuses on social and emotional development across the lifespan. His model outlines eight stages that individuals progress through from infancy to late adulthood, with each stage presenting a psychosocial crisis that must be resolved for healthy personality development.

For instance, the first stage revolves around trust versus mistrust, where infants learn whether or not they can trust their caregivers and environment, impacting their ability to form secure relationships later in life. Each subsequent stage builds upon the outcomes of previous ones, emphasizing the importance of social interactions and relationships in forming one's identity and emotional health.

This focus distinguishes Erikson's work from theories that prioritize cognitive development, physical growth, or moral reasoning. While these aspects are important, they do not encapsulate the overarching themes that Erikson emphasizes, which center on how social interactions and emotional experiences shape an individual's development throughout their life.