Developing psychosocial theory in health psychology: problems and prospects

J Spicer1, K Chamberlain

  • 1Massey University, New Zealand.

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Biological approach
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Erik Erikson, a stage theorist, adapted Freud's theory to emphasize social factors in personality development throughout life, a concept known as psychosocial development. Unlike Freud, who focused on early childhood, Erikson believed that personality evolves across eight life stages, each marked by a specific challenge or "crisis." Successful resolution of each stage fosters competence, while failure may lead to feelings of inadequacy.
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