WGU MZC1-Social, Moral, and Emotional
Development
Stage Crisis Ages How can you positively resolve this
crisis?
1 Trust vs. Birth to 18 You need to develop a basic trust in the
Mistrust months world. The infant’s mother (usually)
must satisfy the infant’s needs for food
and affection.
2 Autonomy vs. 18 months to 3 By the age of 2, most babies can walk
doubt years and have learned enough about
language to communicate with other
people. No longer want to depend on
others and strive toward autonomy , the
ability to do thing for themselves.
Erikson believes that children at this
stage have the dual desire to hold on
and to let go.
3 Initiative vs. 3 to 6 years During this period, children’s
guilt continually maturing motor and
language skills permit them to be
increasingly aggressive and vigorous in
the exploration of both their social and
physical environment.
4 Industry vs. 6 to 12 years Entry into school brings with it a huge
inferiority expansion in the child’s social world.
Teachers and peers take on increasing
importance for the child, while the
influence of parents decreases.
5 Identity vs. role 12 to 18 years The question “Who am I?” becomes
confusion important during adolescence. To
answer it, adolescents increasingly turn
away from parents and toward peer
groups. Erikson believed that during
adolescence the individual’s rapidly
changing physiology, coupled with
pressures to make decisions about
future education and career, creates the
need to question and redefine the
, psychosocial identity established during
the earlier stages.
6 Intimacy vs. Young adulthood Once young people know who they are
isolation and where they are going, the stage is
set for the sharing of their life with
another. The young adult is now ready
to form a new relationship of trust and
intimacy with another individual
7 Generativity vs. Middle adulthood Generativity is “the interest in
self-absorption establishing and guiding the next
generation.” Typically, people attain
generativity through raising their own
children. However, the crisis of this
stage can also be successfully resolved
through other forms of productivity and
creativity, such as teaching. People
should continue to grow.
8 Integrity vs. Late adulthood In the final stage of psychosocial
despair development, people look back over
their lifetime and resolve their final
identity crisis. Acceptance of
accomplishments, failures, and ultimate
limitations brings with it a sense of
integrity, or wholeness, and a
realization that one’s life has been
one’s own responsibility. The finality of
death must also be faced and
accepted.
Erikson Self-quiz:
Identify which stages of Erickson’s theory are present in each example.
1. Oliver is scared and alone. He cries and cries and nothing happens.
Alicia hears loud noises. Her dad hears her crying and comes to comfort her.
STAGE:
2. Amy is having a hard time learning to get to the bathroom in time. Her mom says she will
punish her if she keeps having accidents.
Bob likes to wear superhero costumes everywhere he goes. His mom lets him choose
his clothes whenever possible.
STAGE:
3. Mary likes to help her Dad when he is fixing his bike. She likes to hand him tools and
tries to pump up the tires.
Development
Stage Crisis Ages How can you positively resolve this
crisis?
1 Trust vs. Birth to 18 You need to develop a basic trust in the
Mistrust months world. The infant’s mother (usually)
must satisfy the infant’s needs for food
and affection.
2 Autonomy vs. 18 months to 3 By the age of 2, most babies can walk
doubt years and have learned enough about
language to communicate with other
people. No longer want to depend on
others and strive toward autonomy , the
ability to do thing for themselves.
Erikson believes that children at this
stage have the dual desire to hold on
and to let go.
3 Initiative vs. 3 to 6 years During this period, children’s
guilt continually maturing motor and
language skills permit them to be
increasingly aggressive and vigorous in
the exploration of both their social and
physical environment.
4 Industry vs. 6 to 12 years Entry into school brings with it a huge
inferiority expansion in the child’s social world.
Teachers and peers take on increasing
importance for the child, while the
influence of parents decreases.
5 Identity vs. role 12 to 18 years The question “Who am I?” becomes
confusion important during adolescence. To
answer it, adolescents increasingly turn
away from parents and toward peer
groups. Erikson believed that during
adolescence the individual’s rapidly
changing physiology, coupled with
pressures to make decisions about
future education and career, creates the
need to question and redefine the
, psychosocial identity established during
the earlier stages.
6 Intimacy vs. Young adulthood Once young people know who they are
isolation and where they are going, the stage is
set for the sharing of their life with
another. The young adult is now ready
to form a new relationship of trust and
intimacy with another individual
7 Generativity vs. Middle adulthood Generativity is “the interest in
self-absorption establishing and guiding the next
generation.” Typically, people attain
generativity through raising their own
children. However, the crisis of this
stage can also be successfully resolved
through other forms of productivity and
creativity, such as teaching. People
should continue to grow.
8 Integrity vs. Late adulthood In the final stage of psychosocial
despair development, people look back over
their lifetime and resolve their final
identity crisis. Acceptance of
accomplishments, failures, and ultimate
limitations brings with it a sense of
integrity, or wholeness, and a
realization that one’s life has been
one’s own responsibility. The finality of
death must also be faced and
accepted.
Erikson Self-quiz:
Identify which stages of Erickson’s theory are present in each example.
1. Oliver is scared and alone. He cries and cries and nothing happens.
Alicia hears loud noises. Her dad hears her crying and comes to comfort her.
STAGE:
2. Amy is having a hard time learning to get to the bathroom in time. Her mom says she will
punish her if she keeps having accidents.
Bob likes to wear superhero costumes everywhere he goes. His mom lets him choose
his clothes whenever possible.
STAGE:
3. Mary likes to help her Dad when he is fixing his bike. She likes to hand him tools and
tries to pump up the tires.
