Erickson's Eight Stages

TRUST VS. MISTRUST
- infants learn to trust that their needs will be met by the world, especially by their mother; if not, mistrust develops.

AUTONOMY VS. SHAME AND DOUBT
- children learn to exercise will, to make choices, to control themselves; if not, they become uncertain and doubt that they can do things by themselves.

INITIATIVE VS. GUILT
- children learn to initiate activities and enjoy their accomplishments, acquiring directions and purpose; if they are not allowed initiative, they feel guilty for their attempts at independence.

INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY
- children develop a sense of industry and curiosity and are eager to learn; if not, they feel inferior and lose interest in the tasks before them.

IDENTITY VS. ROLE CONFUSION
- adolescents come to see themselves as unique and integrated persons with an ideology; if not, they become confused about what they want out of life.

INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION
- young people become able to commit themselves to another person; if not, they develop a sense of isolation and feel they have no one in the world but themselves.

GENERATIVITY VS. STAGNATION
- adults are willing to have and care for children, to devote themselves to their work and the common good; if not, they become self-centered and inactive.

EGO INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR
- older people enter a period of reflection, becoming assured that their lives have been meaningful, and they grow ready to face death with acceptance and dignity; if not, they despair for their unaccomplished goals, failures, and ill-spent lives.

chapter 9 Life span development