Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist who proposed a psychosocial theory of human development. His theory includes eight stages of development that span the entire lifespan, from infancy to old age. According to Erikson, each stage is characterized by a specific developmental task or crisis that individuals must successfully navigate in order to develop a healthy sense of self and move on to the next stage of development.

The eight stages of Erikson’s theory are:

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): During this stage, infants learn to trust or mistrust their caregivers based on their experiences with them.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood): Children learn to assert their independence and control over their environment, while also developing a sense of shame and doubt if their efforts are not supported.
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Age): Children learn to take initiative and explore their environment, while also learning to follow rules and social norms.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (Elementary School Age): Children learn to master new skills and knowledge, while also developing a sense of competence or inferiority.
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence): Adolescents develop a sense of identity and establish their place in the world, while also experiencing confusion and uncertainty about their future.
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Early Adulthood): Young adults form intimate relationships and develop a sense of connectedness, while also experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood): Adults find meaning and purpose in their lives by contributing to the well-being of future generations, while also experiencing a sense of stagnation if they feel they have not made a meaningful contribution.
8. Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood): Older adults reflect on their lives and come to accept the events and experiences that have shaped them, while also experiencing a sense of despair if they feel they have not lived a fulfilling life.

Erikson’s theory emphasizes the importance of both nature and nurture in shaping human development, and it highlights the role of social and cultural factors in shaping individual experiences and outcomes.

Stage	Conflict	Age	Desired outcome
1	Trust vs. mistrust	Birth to 12–18 months	A sense of trust and security
2	Autonomy vs. shame & doubt	18 months to 3 years	Feelings of independence lead to belief in yourself and your abilities
3	Initiative vs. guilt	3 to 5 years	Self-confidence; the ability to take the initiative and make decisions
4	Industry vs. inferiority	5 to 12 years	Feelings of pride and accomplishment
5	Identity vs. confusion	12 to 18 years	A strong sense of identity; a clear picture of your future
6	Intimacy vs. isolation	18 to 40 years	Safe relationships filled with commitment and love
7	Generativity vs. stagnation	40 to 65 years	The desire to give to family and community, and to succeed at work
8	Integrity vs. despair	Over 65 years	Pride in what you’ve achieved leads to feelings of satisfaction

© Linda C J Turner