What aspect of child development does Erik Erikson's theory primarily address?

Erik Erikson's theory primarily addresses social and emotional development across the lifespan through a framework of eight psychosocial stages. Each stage presents a central conflict or crisis that individuals must navigate to develop a higher level of psychological maturity. For instance, conflicts like trust vs. mistrust or identity vs. role confusion highlight the importance of social interactions and relational experiences in shaping personality and emotional well-being. This focus on social and emotional aspects makes Erikson’s approach distinct from theories that center around cognitive development, language acquisition, or physical growth milestones, which pertain to different facets of a child's overall development.