Final answer:
Erik Erikson created the first theory of human growth with specific stages known as psychosocial development, focusing on the social aspects of personality development throughout a person's life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first theory of human growth and development that has specific stages with age ranges was created by psychologist Erik Erikson. Erikson's theory, which spans from birth to death, includes eight stages of development and emphasizes the social aspects of personality development.
In Erikson's view, unlike Freud's focus on psychosexual stages centered around basic human urges, personality continues to change and develop over time within a social context. Erikson believed that our stage progression is influenced by our interactions and success in meeting societal expectations. Additionally, other theorists like Sigmund Freud and Jean Piaget have contributed to our understanding of human development with their theories of psychosexual and cognitive development, respectively.