Psychosocial Development, Theory of

Psychosocial theories emphasize the role of relationships as they relate to psychological and personality development. Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development is the most widely known and applied psychosocial theory, but other notable figures include Arthur Chickering and Linda Reisser, James Marcia, Otto Rank, and Karen Horney. Erickson’s theory is not usually applied as a therapeutic approach; however, the general concepts are frequently used by behavioral health professionals to understand the nature of client problems and their possible origins or underlying issues. This theory is often classified as neo-Freudian because of Erikson’s involvement in the psychoanalytical movement and because it shares some similarities with Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytical theory in terms of how individuals progress through the early stages of psychological development. However, rather than a ...