Briefly describe the basic tenets of Erikson's theory and describe his stages of childhood and adult personality development.

Erik Erikson, in the 1960s, proposed a theory of personality development based on stages. Many theories of development describe development in terms of stages, or developmental periods during which characteristic patterns of behaviour are exhibited and certain capacities become established.
Erikson theorised that there are eight stages, spanning the lifespan, in personality development. He held that there is a specific psychosocial crisis during each stage, the outcome of which determines the balance between opposing polarities in personality. The eight stages are: Trust versus Mistrust, Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt; Initiative versus Guilt; Industry versus Inferiority; Intimacy versus Isolation; Generativity versus Self-Absorption; Integrity versus Despair.