Who is known for the 8-stage theory of psychosocial development?

The 8-stage theory of psychosocial development is attributed to Erik Erikson, who formulated a comprehensive framework describing the psychosocial challenges and conflicts faced by individuals throughout their lifespan. Each stage in Erikson's theory corresponds to a specific challenge that contributes to personal development and identity formation. For instance, the first stage focuses on trust versus mistrust, which highlights the importance of a nurturing environment in infancy.

Erikson's stages are continuous, meaning that successful resolution of earlier stages impacts later ones, accumulating to form a person's sense of self and social identity. This theory emphasizes the interaction between individual development and the social experiences one encounters, which distinguishes it from other developmental theories that may focus solely on cognitive processes or learning.

The other theorists listed—Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and Howard Gardner—each contributed significant theories in their own right, focusing on cognitive development, social-cultural influences on learning, and multiple intelligences, respectively, but do not provide a comprehensive stage-based psychosocial perspective like Erikson does.