Erikson’s Eight Stages Erikson’s Eight Stages of Developmentof Development

INFANCYINFANCY

Age – birth to 12 to 18 monthsAge – birth to 12 to 18 months Basic Conflict – Trust vs. Basic Conflict – Trust vs.

MistrustMistrust Important Event – FeedingImportant Event – Feeding The form a first loving, trusting The form a first loving, trusting

relationship with the caregiver, relationship with the caregiver, or develop a sense of mistrust.or develop a sense of mistrust.

TODDLERTODDLER

Age – 18 months to 3 yearsAge – 18 months to 3 years Basic Conflict – autonomy vs. Basic Conflict – autonomy vs.

shame/doubtshame/doubt Important Event – toilet trainingImportant Event – toilet training The child’s energies are directed The child’s energies are directed

toward the development of physical toward the development of physical skills, including walking, grasping skills, including walking, grasping and rectal sphincter control. The and rectal sphincter control. The child may learn control but may child may learn control but may develop shame and doubt if not develop shame and doubt if not handled well.handled well.

PRE-SCHOOLPRE-SCHOOL

Age – 3 to 6 years Age – 3 to 6 years Basic Conflict –Initiative vs. GuiltBasic Conflict –Initiative vs. Guilt Important Event – Important Event –

IndependenceIndependence The child continues to be more The child continues to be more

assertive and to take more assertive and to take more initiative, but may be too initiative, but may be too forceful, leading to guilt feelingsforceful, leading to guilt feelings

SCHOOL AGESCHOOL AGE

Age – 6 to 12 yearsAge – 6 to 12 years Basic Conflict – Industry vs. Basic Conflict – Industry vs.

InferiorityInferiority Important Event – SchoolImportant Event – School The child must deal with the The child must deal with the

demands to learn new skills or demands to learn new skills or risk a sense of inferiority, failure, risk a sense of inferiority, failure, and incompetence.and incompetence.

ADOLESCENCEADOLESCENCE

Age – 12 to 18 yearsAge – 12 to 18 years Basic Conflict – Identity vs. Role Basic Conflict – Identity vs. Role

ConfusionConfusion Important Event – Peer Important Event – Peer

relationshipsrelationships The teenager must achieve a The teenager must achieve a

sense of identity in occupation, sense of identity in occupation, sex roles, politics and religion.sex roles, politics and religion.

YOUNG ADULTHOODYOUNG ADULTHOOD

Age – 19 to 40 yearsAge – 19 to 40 years Basic Conflict – Intimacy vs. Basic Conflict – Intimacy vs.

IsolationIsolation Important Event – Love Important Event – Love

relationshipsrelationships The young adult must develop The young adult must develop

intimate relationships or suffer intimate relationships or suffer feelings of isolation.feelings of isolation.

MIDDLE ADULTHOODMIDDLE ADULTHOOD

Age – 40 to 65 yearsAge – 40 to 65 years Basic Conflict – Generativity vs. Basic Conflict – Generativity vs.

StagnationStagnation Important Event – parentingImportant Event – parenting Each parent must find some Each parent must find some

way to satisfy and support the way to satisfy and support the next generationnext generation

OLDER ADULTHOODOLDER ADULTHOOD

Age 65 until deathAge 65 until death Basic Conflict – Ego Integrity vs. Basic Conflict – Ego Integrity vs.

DespairDespair Important Event – Reflection on Important Event – Reflection on

acceptance and acceptance of one’s acceptance and acceptance of one’s life.life.

The culmination of a sense of The culmination of a sense of oneself as one is and of feeling oneself as one is and of feeling fulfilled.fulfilled.