Approximate Age |
Description of Developmental Task |
Infancy
(1st Year) |
Trust vs. Mistrust: During
the first year, babies are torn between trusting and mistrusting their
parents. If the baby’s needs are dependably met, they will develop a
sense of basic trust in the predictability of their environment.
Otherwise, frustrated infants may become suspicious, fearful, and overly
concerned about security. |
Toddler
(2nd Year) |
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt: Due
to children’s growing physical development, they begin to have greater
contact with their surroundings. They learn to hold things, manipulate
objects, and control their excretory functions. If a child repeatedly fails
to master skills during this stage, the child may experience self-doubt
and shame. |
Preschooler
(3-5 years) |
Initiative vs. Guilt: Preschoolers
learn to initiate tasks, carry out plans, and undertake new projects.
Parental support for these initiatives can lead to a sense of joy in the
children. However, if children are unable to acquire a sense of
initiative, they may develop strong feelings of guilt, unworthiness, and
resentment. |
Elementary School
(6 years to puberty) |
Competence (or "Industry") vs. Inferiority:
At
home and school, children encounter a new set of expectations. They need
the skills to become fully-functioning adults. If the are unable to meet
these expectations, they may conclude that they are inadequate, mediocre,
or inferior and lose faith in their power to become competent. |
Adolescence
(teen years into early 20’s) |
Identity vs. Role Confusion: At
puberty, childhood ends and adulthood begins. The critical problem at this
stage is to find one’s identity. Failure to forge an identity leads to
role confusion and despair. |
Young Adulthood
(20’s to early 40’s) |
Intimacy vs. Isolation:
During this stage, men and women must learn to be intimate (physically and
emotionally) with another adult. Usually, this occurs in the form of
marriage. Erikson felt we must have resolved earlier developmental issues
in order to become intimate. To form an intimate relationship, lovers must
be trusting, autonomous, capable of initiative, and must understand
themselves. Failure at intimacy can bring a painful sense of loneliness
and isolation. |
Middle Adulthood
(40’s to 60’s) |
Generativity vs. Stagnation: During
this stage, the challenge is to remain productive and creative in all
aspects of one’s life. People who have successfully negotiated the
earlier 6 stages are likely to find meaning and joy in all aspects of
their lives—career, family, community, etc. For others, life becomes a
drab routine. |
Late Adulthood
(Late 60’s and up) |
Integrity vs. Despair: As
people get older, they must come to terms with the approach of death.
People who have gained full maturity by resolving earlier stages possess
the integrity to face death with a minimum of fear. |