AP Psychology Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

Trust vs. Mistrust
If needs are dependably met, infants develop a sense of basic trust.

Autonomy (independence) vs. Shame and Doubt
Toddlers learn to exercise their will and do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.

Initiative vs. Guilt
Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about their efforts to be independent.

Industry vs. Inferiority
Children learn the pleasure of applying themselves to task, or they feel inferior.

Identity vs. Role Confusion
Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity, or they become confused about who they are.

Intimacy vs. Isolation
Young adults struggle to form close relationships and to gain the capacity for intimate love, or they feel socially isolated.

Generactivity vs. Stagnation
In middle age, people discover a sense of contributing to the world, usually through family and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.

Integrity vs. Despair
Reflecting on his or her life, an older adult may feel a sense of satisfaction or failure.

our consistent and comfortable sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent's task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles

the "we" aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to "Who am I?" that comes from our group memberships

in Erikson's theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood