You will experience 8 stages of growth throughout your life. In fact, you’re probably in stage 7 already. Well done. Almost there.

The 8 stages of growth were developed in the mid-20th century by the German-born psychologist Erik Erickson. Once they were published, Erickson’s concepts pretty much became the psychological standard, They stomped on the fingers of Freud’s human development theories, moving them down a rung on the ladder.

I know you’re curious to know what the 8 stages are, so let’s avoid the suspense-filled mumbo-jumbo and get right to it. Here you go:

  1. Infancy
  2. Toddlerhood
  3. Preschool years
  4. Early school years
  5. Adolescence
  6. Young adulthood
  7. Middle adulthood
  8. Late adulthood

As I said, you’re probably in Stage 7, amiright?

But wait, there’s more.

Herr Erickson was a master of conflict. In fact, he is most well known for coming up with the concept of identity crisis. Yeah, you can thank him for that inner conflict.

Consequently, Erickson didn’t define the 8 stages of life by something as simple as age range. Instead, in true Ricky style, each stage is defined by a key conflict.

For instance, in Stage 5 (adolescence) we are torn by the conflict between Identity and Confusion.

It’s during the teenage years that we strive to forge our own identity. Those who are successful in creating a healthy identity continue through adulthood with a better understanding of who they are.

Those who don’t create a healthy identity usually end up feeling confused about their place in life.

(I fully expect you to be doing some serious self-analysis right now, palsky).

Stage 7 (Middle Adulthood), the one you’re probably swimming in, is defined by the conflict between Generativity and Stagnation.

This conflict is important to understand.

But first, I need to tell you about a little something special from another famous German (what’s with all the smart Germans?!).