Social Work Qualifying Practice Exam

Ego Psychology centers on the ego as an active, organizing force in personality, emphasizing its adaptive functions, coping mechanisms, and development across the lifespan. Erik Erikson is a key figure here because he expanded the idea of how the ego helps people interact with their social world, not just how instincts drive behavior. He articulated eight psychosocial stages, each presenting a crisis that shapes identity and functioning as a person grows—from trust and autonomy in early life to integrity in old age. This focus on ongoing development, social context, and the ego’s capacity to adapt fits Ego Psychology’s emphasis on how people cope with real-world demands and maintain psychological balance over time. In contrast, Sigmund Freud laid the groundwork for psychoanalysis with a focus on psychosexual drives, Carl Rogers highlights a humanistic emphasis on self-actualization, and B.F. Skinner centers on observable behavior and conditioning. So Erik Erikson stands out as the major proponent among these options for Ego Psychology.