Erikson's Psychosocial Stages Summary Chart
Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson described development that occurs throughout the lifespan. Learn more in this chart summarizing Erikson's stages of psychosocial
development.
Stage
Basic Conflict
Important
Events
Outcome
Infancy (birth to
18 months)
Trust vs. Mistrust
Feeding
Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliabilty, care, and
affection. A lack of this will lead to mistrust.
Early Childhood (2
to 3 years)
Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt
Toilet Training
Children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of
independence. Success leads to feelings of autonomy, failure results in feelings of
shame and doubt.
Preschool (3 to 5
years)
Initiative vs. Guilt
Exploration
Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment. Success in
this stage leads to a sense of purpose. Children who try to exert too much power
experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt.
School Age (6 to
11 years)
Industry vs.
Inferiority
School
Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a
sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.
Adolescence (12
to 18 years)
Identity vs. Role
Confusion
Social
Relationships
Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability
to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self.
Young Adulthood
(19 to 40 years)
Intimacy vs.
Isolation
Relationships
Young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other people. Success
leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation.
Middle Adulthood
(40 to 65 years)
Generativity vs.
Stagnation
Work and
Parenthood
Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having children
or creating a positive change that benefits other people. Success leads to feelings of
usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the
world.
Maturity(65 to
death)
Ego Integrity vs.
Despair
Reflection on
Life
Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this
stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and
despair
Trust Versus Mistrust
Stage One of Psychosocial Development ( birth to 18 months)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Trust vs Mistrust
Major Question: "Can I trust the people around me?"
Basic Virtue: Hope
Important Event(s): Feeding
The trust versus mistrust stage is the first stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs between birth and approximately
18 months of age. According to Erikson, the trust versus mistrust stage is the most important period in a person’s life.
Because an infant is entirely dependent upon his or her caregivers, the quality of care that the child receives plays an important role in the shaping of the
child’s personality. During this stage, children learn whether or not they can trust the people around them. When a baby cries, does his caregiver attend
to his needs? When he is frightened, will someone comfort him?
When these needs are consistently met, the child will learn that he can trust the people that are caring for him. If, however, these needs are not
consistently met, the child will begin to mistrust the people around him.
If a child successfully develops trust, he or she will feel safe and secure in the world. Caregivers who are inconsistent, emotionally unavailable or rejecting
contribute to feelings of mistrust in the children they care for. Failure to develop trust will result in fear and a belief that the world is inconsistent and
unpredictable.
Autonomy Versus Shame and Doubt
Stage Two of Psychosocial Development (18 months to 2/3 years)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt
Major Question: "Can I do things myself or am I reliant on the help of others?"
Basic Virtue: Will
Important Event(s): Toilet Training
Autonomy versus shame and doubt is the second stage of Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. This stage occurs between the ages of 18
months to approximately age two to three years. According to Erikson, children at this stage are focused on developing a greater sense of self-control.
Gaining a sense of personal control over the world is important at this stage of development. Toilet training plays a major role; learning to control one’s
body functions leads to a feeling of control and a sense of independence. Other important events include gaining more control over food choices, toy
preferences and clothing selection.
Children who successfully complete this stage feel secure and confident, while those who do not are left with a sense of inadequacy and self-doubt.
Initiative Versus Guilt
Stage Three of Psychosocial Development (Age 3-5)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Initiative versus Guilt
Major Question: “Am I good or bad?”
Basic Virtue: Purpose
Important Event(s): Exploration, Play
Initiative versus guilt is the third stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during the preschool years, between the
ages of three and five. During the initiative versus guilt stage, children begin to assert their power and control over the world through directing play and
other social interaction.
Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment by taking initiative by planning activities, accomplishing tasks and facing
challenges. During this stage, it is important for caregivers to encourage exploration and to help children make appropriate choices. Caregivers who are
discouraging or dismissive may cause children to feel ashamed of themselves and to become overly dependent upon the help of others.
Play and imagination takes on an important role at this stage. Children have their sense of initiative reinforced by being given the freedom and
encouragement to play. When efforts to engage in physical and imaginative play are stifled by caregivers, children begin to feel that their self-initiated
efforts are a source of embarrassment. Success in this stage leads to a sense of purpose, while failure results in a sense of guilt.
Industry Versus Inferiority
Stage Four of Psychosocial Development (age 6 to 11)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Industry versus Inferiority
Major Question: "How can I be good?"
Basic Virtue: Competence
Important Event(s): School
Industry versus inferiority is the fourth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. The stage occurs during childhood between the ages
of six and eleven. School and social interaction play an important role during this time of a child’s life. Through social interactions, children begin to
develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities.
During the industry versus inferiority stage, children become capable of performing increasingly complex tasks. As a result, they strive to master new
skills. Children who are encouraged and commended by parents and teachers develop a feeling of competence and belief in their skills. Those who receive
little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, or peers will doubt their ability to be successful.
According to Erikson, this stage is vital in the development of self-confidence. During school and other social activities, children receive praise and
attention for performing various tasks such as reading, writing, drawing and solving problems. Children need to cope with new social and academic
demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.
Identity Versus Confusion
Stage Five of Psychosocial Development (age 12 years to 18 years)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Identity Versus Confusion
Major Question: "Who am I?"
Basic Virtue: Fidelity
Important Event(s): Social Relationships
Identity versus confusion is the fifth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during adolescence between the ages
of approximately 12 to 18. Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. During adolescence, children are exploring their independence
and developing a sense of self.
As they make the transition from childhood to adulthood, teens may begin to feel confused or insecure about themselves and how they fit in to society.
As they seek to establish a sense of self, teens may experiment with different roles, activities and behaviors. According to Erikson, this is important to the
process of forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life.
Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a
feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will insecure and confused about themselves and the future.
Intimacy Versus Isolation
Stage Six of Psychosocial Development (19 years to 40 years)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Intimacy Versus Isolation
Major Question: "Will I be loved or will I be alone?"
Basic Virtue: Love
Important Event(s): Romantic Relationships
Intimacy versus isolation is the sixth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. This stage takes place during young adulthood between
the ages of approximately 19 and 40. During this period of time, the major conflict centers on forming intimate, loving relationships with other people.
While psychosocial theory is often presented as a series of neatly defined, sequential steps, it is important to remember that each stage contributes to
the next. For example, Erikson believed that having a fully formed sense of self (established during the identity versus confusion stage) is essential to
being able to form intimate relationships. Studies have demonstrated that those with a poor sense of self tend to have less committed relationships and
are more likely to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression.
Erikson believed it was vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people. Success leads to strong relationships, while failure
results in loneliness and isolation.
Generativity Versus Stagnation
The Seventh Stage of Psychosocial Development (40 years to 65 years)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Generativity Versus Stagnation
Major Question: "How can I contribute to the world?"
Basic Virtue: Care
Important Event(s): Parenthood and Work
Generativity versus stagnation is the seventh stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This stage takes place during middle adulthood
between the ages of approximately 40 and 65. During this time, adults strive to create or nurture things that will outlast them; often by having children
or contributing to positive changes that benefits other people.
Contributing to society and doing things to benefit future generations are important needs at the generativity versus stagnation stage of development.
Generativity refers to "making your mark" on the world, through caring for others, creating things and accomplishing things that make the world a better
place.
Stagnation refers to the failure to find a way to contribute. These individuals may feel disconnected or uninvolved with thei r community and with society
as a whole.
Those who are successful during this phase will feel that they are contributing to the world by being active in their home and community. Those who fail
to attain this skill will feel unproductive and uninvolved in the world.
Integrity Versus Despair
Stage Eight of Psychosocial Development (65 years onwards)
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Psychosocial Conflict: Integrity versus despair
Major Question: "Did I live a meaningful life?"
Basic Virtue: Wisdom
Important Event(s): Reflecting back on life
Integrity versus despair is the eighth and final stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during late adulthood from
age 65 through the end of life. During this period of time, people reflect back on the life they have lived and come away with either a sense of fulfillment
from a life well lived or a sense of regret and despair over a life misspent.
Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity. Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and
a general feeling of satisfaction. These individuals will attain wisdom, even when confronting death. Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will
feel a sense of integrity. Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a general feeling of satisfaction. These individuals
will attain wisdom, even when confronting death.
Those who are unsuccessful during this phase will feel that their life has been wasted and will experience many regrets. The individual will be left with
feelings of bitterness and despair.