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Here’s a brief rundown of Erik Erikson’s stages of Psychosocial Development that I found on Quizlet (free online flashcard site) and put into a handout for easy review.

Trust vs. Mistrust
(birth- 18 months)

Characteristics include:

• Needs must be consistently met for infant to develop trust in others and environment
• Visual contact and touch are important in building trust
• Most important relationship = primary caregivers

Issues include:

• Separation
• Lack of stimulation
• Pain
• Unfamiliar routine, people and environment

Interventions include:

• Prompt/consistent care
• Encourage parental involvement
• Provide appropriate stimulation

Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt
(18 months- 3 years)

Characteristics include:

• Gaining control of their bodies and learning new skills
• Increased autonomy and self-esteem
• Shame and doubt result when shamed into learning new skill (i.e., potty training)
• Most significant relationship = parents

 Issues include:

• Separation
• Fear of bodily harm
• Loss of autonomy
• Loss of routine

Interventions include:

• Parental involvement
• Encourage normalization through exploration of environment
• Implement routine
• Provide opportunities for control

Initiative vs. Guilt
(3- 5 years)

Characteristics include:

• Begin to initiate, not imitate play
• Show initiative by asking “why”
• Most significant relationship = family

Issues include:

• Separation
• Lack of control and independence
• Magical thinking and egocentric thought lead to misunderstanding and fear

Interventions include:

• Parental involvement
• Increase opportunities for control
• Maintain routines
• Assess and increase understanding

Industry vs. Inferiority
(6- 12 years)

Characteristics include:

• Develops self-worth by refining skills
• Capable of learning numerous skills and information
• Most significant relationship = school and friends

 Issues include:

• Separation from normal activities associated with home, school and peers
• Loss of control
• Concrete, literal thought leads to misunderstanding

 Interventions include:

• Parental involvement
• Promote peer interaction
• Provide activities that promote sense of success and mastery

Identity vs. Role Confusion
(12- 18 years)

Characteristics include:

• Developing sense of identity separate from family
• Substitute ideals for experience
• Contemplate moral issues
• Most significant relationship = peer groups

Issues include:

• Lack of privacy
• Body image
• Separation from peer groups
• Forced dependence

 Interventions include:

• Promote peer interaction
• Promote privacy
• Provide opportunities for choice, control, and self-expression