Erikson’s Eight Stages

of Development
 INFANCY

 Age – birth to 12 to 18 months

 Basic Conflict – Trust vs.
Mistrust
 Important Event – Feeding
 The form a first loving, trusting
relationship with the caregiver,
or develop a sense of mistrust.
 TODDLER

 Age – 18 months to 3 years

 Basic Conflict – autonomy vs.
shame/doubt
 Important Event – toilet training
 The child’s energies are directed
toward the development of physical
skills, including walking, grasping and
rectal sphincter control. The child
may learn control but may develop
shame and doubt if not handled well.
PRE-SCHOOL

 Age – 3 to 6 years
 Basic Conflict –Initiative vs. Guilt
 Important Event – Independence
 The child continues to be more
assertive and to take more
initiative, but may be too forceful,
leading to guilt feelings
SCHOOL AGE

 Age – 6 to 12 years
 Basic Conflict – Industry vs.
Inferiority
 Important Event – School
 The child must deal with the
demands to learn new skills or
risk a sense of inferiority, failure,
and incompetence.
 ADOLESCENCE

 Age – 12 to 18 years
 Basic Conflict – Identity vs. Role
Confusion
 Important Event – Peer
relationships
 The teenager must achieve a
sense of identity in occupation,
sex roles, politics and religion.
 YOUNG ADULTHOOD

 Age – 19 to 40 years
 Basic Conflict – Intimacy vs.
Isolation
 Important Event – Love
relationships
 The young adult must develop
intimate relationships or suffer
feelings of isolation.
 MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

 Age – 40 to 65 years
 Basic Conflict – Generativity vs.
Stagnation
 Important Event – parenting
 Each parent must find some
way to satisfy and support the
next generation
OLDER ADULTHOOD

 Age 65 until death

 Basic Conflict – Ego Integrity vs.
Despair
 Important Event – Reflection on
acceptance and acceptance of one’s
life.
 The culmination of a sense of
oneself as one is and of feeling
fulfilled.