Which theorist proposed a psychosocial framework of development that emphasizes stages such as autonomy, identity, and generativity, with teachers modeling respect?

• A. Erik Erikson
• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. Jean Piaget
• D. Lawrence Kohlberg

Answer: (A)

Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory describes how people move through stages that are shaped by their relationships and social environment. The stages highlighted here—autonomy, identity, and generativity—capture different life periods: autonomy in early childhood as kids seek independence, identity during adolescence as they form a sense of self, and generativity in adulthood as people focus on contributing to others and the next generation. In a classroom, teachers who model respect provide the social context that helps students navigate these stages, building trust, fostering independence, and supporting a positive sense of self. This emphasis on social interactions across the lifespan is distinctive of Erikson’s framework, unlike Freud’s focus on psychosexual drives, Piaget’s focus on cognitive thinking changes, or Kohlberg’s focus on moral reasoning.