Category: Erikson

Initiative vs guilt is the third stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, occurring during the preschool years between ages 3 and 5. In Erikson stage 3, children begin to assert power and control over the world through directing play and other social interactions. Success leads to the virtue of purpose — the ability to envision and pursue goals...

As infants grow into toddlers, they begin to assert their will, explore their environment, and develop a sense of self apart from their caregivers. According to Erik Erikson, this critical phase—typically occurring between 18 months and 3 years—marks the second stage of psychosocial development: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.

Erikson’s stages of development describe eight turning points that unfold from birth to old age. Each stage presents a central conflict — resolve it well, and you gain a lasting psychological strength called a virtue; struggle with it, and those tensions resurface in later stages. Real-life examples from every phase of life — toddlers asserting independence, teenagers wrestling with identity,...

Identity vs role confusion is the fifth stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, occurring during adolescence between ages 12 and 18. During this stage, teenagers explore their independence and develop a sense of self. Success in this stage leads to the virtue of fidelity—the ability to commit to others and accept others despite ideological differences—while failure results in...

Generativity vs Stagnation is the seventh stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, occurring during middle adulthood (ages 40 to 65). Generativity is the drive to create or nurture things that will outlast you — raising children, mentoring others, or contributing meaningfully to society. Stagnation is the failure to find that sense of contribution, leading to disconnection, lack of...