This book brings together three early articles that—along with "Childhood and Society"—are considered by many as the best introduction to Erikson's theories. "Ego Development and Historical Change" is a selection of extensive notes in which Erikson first attempted to correlate observations of groups studied during field visits with children studied longitudinally and clinically. These notes represent the material from which "Childhood and Society" was derived. "Growth and Crises of the Healthy Personality" extends Erikson beyond adolescence, into critical phases of the entire life cycle. In the third and final essay, Erikson addresses "The Problem of Ego Identity" successively from biographical, clinical, and social perspectives—all dimensions that were later developed separately in his work.