Stage Influential Figure Conflict or Crisis Possible Results from Resolving

to be Resolved Conflict or Crisis

Favorable Unfavorable
Results Results

Being able to
trust others Mistrusting
Infancy (from when primary others,
birth to 18 Parents Trust vs. Mistrust caregiver withdrawal or
months) (usually the estrangement
mother) provides
caring, attention,
and love.
Develops self- Compulsive self-
control and restraint or
physical skills, compliance
and sense of Willfulness and
Early Childhood Parents Autonomy vs. independence defiance
(18 months to 3 Shame and without losing Failure will result
years) Doubt self-esteem in feelings of
Ability to shame and
cooperate and to doubt.
express oneself
Develops feeling
of autonomy.
Learns that When using too
being assertive, much power and
Late Childhood Parents and Initiative vs Guilt using power, and control, might
(Preschool) (3-5 Teachers being purposeful experience
years) can influence disapproval
their resulting in lack
environment of self-
Develops sense confidence and
of purpose sense of guilt
Starts to Pessimism, fear
evaluate one's of being wrongly
behavior. judged
Learns how to Loss of hope,
cope with the sense of being
School Age (6- Parents and Industry vs school mediocre
12 years) Teachers Inferiority environment and Develops
its demands feelings of
Learns how to Inferiority
create, develop, Withdrawal from
and manipulate school and peers
Develops a
sense of
competence and
perseverance.
Develops a Feeling of
sense of self and confusion,
Adolescence Teachers and Identity vs. Role Identity indecisiveness,
(12-20 years) Significant Confusion Plans to and anti- social
Others actualize one's behavior Weak
abilities sense of.
Develops the
ability to stay
true to oneself.
Develops a Impersonal,
strong need to weak
Young Adulthood Friends Intimacy vs form intimate, relationships
(20-25 years) Isolation loving Avoidance of
relationships relationship,
with a group of career, or
people or with lifestyle
another person commitments
Develops strong
 relationships May result in
Learns isolation and
commitment to loneliness
work and with
another person
or group.
Creates or Self-indulgence.
nurtures things self-concern, or
Adulthood (25- Community Generativity vs. that will outlast lack of interests
65 years) Stagnation them, either by and
having children commitments
or creating a
positive change Shallow
that benefits involvement in
others the world,
Creativity, pessimism
productivity,
feeling of
usefulness and
accomplishment,
and concern for
others.
Sense of Sense of loss,
fulfillment as one contempt for
Maturity (65 Community Integrity vs. looks back in others, May
years to death) Despair one's life and result in regret,
develops feeling bitterness and
of wisdom despair
Acceptance of
worth and
uniqueness of
one's own life
Acceptance of
the inevitability
of death and
transitioning.