Infancy Birth to 18 months – Trust versus Mistrust. If caregivers provide reliable care, affection, feeding, bathing, nurturing, and safety we feel trust, faith, hope, and confidence in the world. Inconsistent, unavailable, unpredictable, or rejecting caregivers instill mistrust, fear, and suspicion (primary relationship: mother)
Toddler 18 mo. to 3 years – Autonomy versus Shame and
Doubt. Learning to
assert personal control of skills such as toilet training, dressing, and eating
allows a sense of independence, self-confidence, and self-will instead of shame
and doubt. Confident children can now choose their food, clothing, and toys. (parents)
Preschool 3 to 5 years -
Initiative versus Guilt. Young
children explore and learn humor, empathy, resilience, and a sense of purpose
and control in their lives. Disapproval leads to feelings of
guilt. (family) Children begin to assert their power and control over the
world through directing play and other social interactions. Successful children
feel capable and able to lead others. Those who fail to acquire these skills
are left with a sense of guilt, self-doubt, and lack of initiative.
School Age 5 to 13 years
– Industry versus Inferiority. Dealing
with social and school settings leads to feelings of competence and
determination through understanding and organizing intellectual, social, and
physical skills. Successful children develop a sense of pride in their
accomplishments and abilities. Failure leads to sense of
inferiority. (schoolmates/neighbors)
Adolescence 13 to 21 years – Identity versus Role Confusion. Who and what am I? One comes to see oneself as a unique, integrated, and worthy person with a strong sense of self and feelings of independence and control. The alternative is role confusion and weak sense of self. Identity refers to the beliefs, ideals, and values that shape and guide a person's behavior. Those with a poor sense of self tend to have less committed relationships and are more likely to struggle with emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression. (peers)
Young Adult 21 to 39 years – Intimacy versus Isolation.
Beginning a
career and committing to caring and loving relationships can lead to intimacy,
affection, and tenderness. Young adults need to form intimate, loving
relationships with others. Success in this stage leads to strong relationships.
Failure in this stage leads to loneliness and isolation. (mate/close friends).
Middle Aged 40 to 65
years – Generativity versus Stagnation. A time
for nurturing, creativity, and contribution (generativity). Concern for
family, friends, and society through parenting and work lead to well-being,
accomplishment, and prosperity. Isolation and self absorption brings stagnation
and loss. Being proud of your accomplishments, seeing children grow into
adults, and developing a sense of unity with your life partner are important
accomplishments of this stage. Success leads to feelings of usefulness and
accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the world, (co-workers/family/society)
Older Adult 65 and Older – Integrity versus Despair. Older age is focused on reflecting
back on life. A successful life brings wisdom and a sense of
integrity, satisfaction, and fulfillment. The alternative is regret,
bitterness, and despair. (humanity)
Each
stage builds on the preceding and paves the way for development. Success fosters
strengths that serve us well for the rest of our lives. Failures
limit the essential skills needed for a strong sense of self. Each is concerned with becoming competent and
mastering an area of life or feeling inadequate. No child is going to develop a
sense of 100% trust or 100% doubt. Successful development is all about striking
a balance.