The theory that Erik Erikson suggested was that the identity of the ego of an individual develops throughout the entire life of that individual or human being. It includes eight different stages in the process. Trust, independence, initiative, relationships, accomplishment, identity, contribution, and reflection are the stages.
However, the theory that Erikson on Psychological Development proposed is often criticized for supporting a very limited view of human development. Famous psychologists also have criticized the Psychological Development theory of Erikson by stating that the theory is mainly based and hugely focused on childhood of Erikson personally while ignoring the development or upliftment that occurs in a person's adulthood. Some psychologists also supported the idea and the theory of Psychological Development proposed by Erik Erikson. Nevertheless, later on, Erikson acknowledged that a person's identity changes from time to time, especially in adulthood, which means after the person has reached the adolescent stage of his/her career. Thus, there are criticisms in the case of for and against the case of Erikson's theory.
According to Robert Peck, one of the world's most renowned psychologists, Erikson's theory does not provide a detailed explanation. He criticized Erikson's theory because, according to Robert Peck, it did not present a precise, elaborate, and detailed explanation of a person's psychological and egoistic behavior. In his theory, Robert Peck mainly discusses a person's rigidity and mental flexibility. He also highlighted emotional stability and flexibility, impoverishment in the different stages of human emotions, and sexualizing and socializing in human relationships. Lastly, he also focused on placing morals and values on one's wisdom versus the physical power of a human being. All of these traits directly contrast with the psychological theory proposed by Erikson, and thus. As a result, Robert Peck criticized their theory of Erikson. In his theory, he has proven that Erikson's theory is only restricted to a person's childhood. It does not directly go with the flow of adulthood of the same person, as human intentions and emotions change from time to time in the form of a temporary development and upliftment. Erikson did his theory and observations based on his childhood. Thus, Robert Peck criticized his theory for focusing or venting so heavily on the stages and just assuming or guessing that a stage must be completed before the next development problem. Peck also stated that Erikson's theory mainly focuses on the social and environmental expectations that are bound or enclosed to only one or some specific cultures. However, it is not all applicable for a wide range of cultures, or to be precise, and it is not applicable for all cultures because of the diversity the cultures possess within them. Thus, giving Erikson's theory a backward point rather.
According to Robert Peck, Erikson’s Theory did not present a precise, elaborate, and detailed explanation of a person's psychological and egoistic behavior.
Robert Peck mainly talks about a person's rigidity and mental flexibility.
Robert Peck criticized their theory of Erikson. In his theory, he has proven that Erikson’s theory is only restricted to a person's childhood.
Robert Peck criticized his theory for focusing or venting so heavily on the stages and just assuming or guessing that before the next development problem, a stage must be completed.
In terms of criticizing Erikson's theory of psychological development, world-famous psychologist George Vaillant proposed his Theory of Adult Development which mainly focuses on the viewpoints of developmental growth in the different stages of self-identification and self-discovery and also recognizing one's own true identity. George Vaillant proposed various stages of Adult Development. These are identity development, career consolidation, achieving and gaining integrity, generativity, and becoming a promising keeper of the exact meaning. All these stages come with the adulthood stages of a person and Erikson did not mention these stages of self-development by self-focus. Erikson's works are only based on the childhood of an individual, and clearly, that does not define or does not go by the adultery stage of a person. Thus, in this theory of Vaillant, he added a later part in adulthood, along with or after the craft of Erikson's Generativity.
George Vaillant proposed his Theory of Adult Development mainly focuses on the viewpoints of developmental growth in the different stages of self-identification and self-discovery and also recognizing one’s own true identity
The stages are: identity development, consolidation of career, achieving and gaining integrity, generativity and lastly becoming a promising keeper of the exact meaning.
According to GeorgeErikson did not mention these stages of self-development by self-focus.
Erikson’s works are only based on the childhood of an individual, and clearly, that does not define or does not go by the adultery stage of a person.
The father of Psychology, Sigmund Freud, did support the Psychological Development theory that was proposed by Erik Erikson. The works of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud impacted Erikson's theory. Similarly, with the Freudian theory, Erikson also focused on the psychological development of a particular individual rather than looking towards or looking upon only psychosexual development. Freud agreed with Erikson that human development occurs in different and distinctive stages. Thus, Erikson chose similar ages that specifically mark these development stages. Freud also focused on an individual's unconscious factors in a person's psychological development. This is why Erikson chose childhood of his own to experiment, and then he came to a conclusion divided into eight parts. According to Erik Erikson, this made it easier for him to compare the results of each of the stages of a person, considering the stages of unconsciousness of a person at the same time.
Erikson's theory has contradictions in most of its senses and statements. Many renowned psychologists contrasted with the theory of Psychological Development, which Erik Erikson proposed. As it is mainly restricted to only one of the stages of human living and deals only with a few people in this regard, the theory by Erikson is not acceptable in its truest form. Nevertheless, at some point, it holds the absolute truth in the case of showcasing the egoistic behavior and the emotional stabilities and instabilities for a certain age or a certain period.