Erikson's theory posits that individuals face the same psychosocial conflict at different stages of life, thus making the resolution of these conflicts interchangeable across stages.

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development suggests that as we grow, we encounter various challenges, or conflicts, that are important for our emotional and social growth. Each of the eight stages represents a different conflict, such as trust versus mistrust in infancy or identity versus role confusion in adolescence. While these conflicts are unique to each stage, the way we resolve them can influence how we deal with similar issues later in life. For example, if a child learns to trust their caregivers, they may find it easier to form healthy relationships in adulthood. Therefore, resolving these conflicts successfully at one stage can help us navigate similar challenges in the future.