American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ABPN Practice Questions and Study Guide

The epigenetic principle is a foundational concept in developmental psychology and refers to the idea that development occurs in a predetermined sequence of stages, where each stage builds on the previous one. According to this principle, each developmental task must be resolved or experienced before an individual can successfully move on to the next stage.

This concept, which was notably articulated by Erik Erikson in his psychosocial development theory, suggests that failure to adequately resolve conflicts or crises at a specific stage can lead to difficulties in subsequent stages. Therefore, achieving successful outcomes in earlier developmental tasks is crucial for healthy development and progress toward later stages. Each stage is interdependent; thus, the principle emphasizes the structured nature of human growth, where earlier experiences shape later capabilities and behaviors.

Other concepts mentioned, such as psychosocial development and behavioral conditioning, play significant roles in understanding human behavior and psychological growth, but they do not specifically emphasize the sequential resolution of stages in the same way that the epigenetic principle does. The notion of hierarchical development also supports a structured progression, yet it lacks the inherent focus on the necessity of resolving each stage as the epigenetic principle does.