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Trust vs Mistrust
Baby John just turned one year old. At his birthday he is surrounded by people he doesn't know and once a stranger holds him he starts to cry. Once his father picks him up, he stops crying and starts smiling again. This is the first stage of Erikson's stages: Trust vs mistrust. In this stage babies figure out who loves them and cares for them regularly. They trust their caregivers and do not trust strangers or people who do not care for them kindly. -
Initiative vs Guilt
Four year old Elise has just gotten new pink shoes, and she sees her father lacing up his own boots. Because she is in the third stage of Erikson's stages, she too tries to tie her own shoes. She doesn't know how, but she won't let her father tie them for her. In the end she feels guilt and shame. In the initiative vs guilt stage, young children want to exert power over their environment. If they succeed, they feel pride and a sense of purpose, if they can't they feel shame and guilt. -
Identity vs Role Confusion
Sixteen year old Kate is halfway through high school and feels like she doesn't have any talents or a defined self. She looks at her peers, who have their own unique personalities, and she views herself as a weak person. She is in Erikson's stage of identity vs role confusion, which teenagers go through when they're trying to establish their self identity and worth. If they're not happy with their identity, they feel like they have a weak personality; if they are happy, they feel confident. -
Intimacy vs Isolation
Roger is now graduating college with a degree but he is not happy with is life because he does not have a romantic partner. He feels like there is no one else out there for him. He is in the sixth stage: intimacy vs isolation. In this stage, adults need to have an intimate relationship with someone to love and confide in, else they feel isolated and unhappy with life. If they do have someone, they feel confident and can build strong relationships.