The stages were developed by Erik Erikson, and describe eight developmental stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds on the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future.
Age
Psychosocial Crisis
Significant Relations
Psychosocial Modalities
Psychosocial Virtues
Maladaptations/
Malignancies
0-1, Infant
trust
vs
mistrust
mother
to get, to give in return
hope, faith
sensory distortion, withdrawal
2-3, Toddler
autonomy
vs
shame and doubt
parents
to hold on, to let go
will, determination
impulsivity, compulsion
3-6, Preschooler
initiative
vs
guilt
family
to go after, to play
purpose, courage
ruthlessness, inhibition
7-12, School-age child
industry
vs
inferiority
neighborhood and school
to complete, to make things together
competence
narrow virtuosity, inertia
12-18, Adolescent
ego-identity
vs
role-confusion
peer groups, role models
to be oneself, to share oneself
fidelity, loyalty
fanaticism, repudiation
20-45, Young adult
intimacy
vs
isolation
partners, friends
to lose and find oneself in another
love
promiscuity, exclusivity
30-65, Middle aged adult
generativity
vs
self-absorption
household, co-workers
to make actual, to take care of
care
overextension, rejectivity
50+, Old adult
integrity
vs
despair
mankind or 'my kind'
to be, through having been, to face not being
wisdom
presumption despair
