# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Ages Birth-1)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Ages Birth-1)

# data[].attributes.body
In Stage 1, babies begin to learn to trust the adults in their life. They rely on parents and guardians for the essential things needed in life, such as: food, water, shelter, and affection!

Growing up, my mother's family struggled with always having the necessity of food, specifically formula. She let me know that there were times where she felt like my grandparents had failed her, but she stated that they would always pull through and have enough for short periods at a time.

“Children love and want to be loved and they very much prefer the joy of accomplishment to the triumph of hateful failure.” Erik Erikson

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt (Ages 1-3)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt (Ages 1-3)

# data[].attributes.body
In Stage 2, children begin to gain a sense of independence for many tasks. They may also feel a sense of shame of embarrassment when learning how to do things.

As my mother was learning to tie her shoes, she would often feel ashamed that she was unable to do it fluently, even though her big sister could. She spent a lot of time practicing, and eventually learned how to do it!

"The ability to regulate, or control, one’s feelings is one of the key advances of early childhood"

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 3: Initiative vs. guilt (Ages 3-6)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 3: Initiative vs. guilt (Ages 3-6)

# data[].attributes.body
In Stage 3, children being to take initiative for many tasks. They may also feel guilt over tasks that they cannot complete correctly.

When my mother was around the age of 5, she began learning how to tie her shoes. She took the initiative to learn how to do this by herself, because her parents weren't around much to teach her this skill.

"This conflict marks a split between two parts of the personality: the part that remains a child, full of exuberance and a desire to test new powers, and the part that is becoming an adult, constantly examining the propriety of motives and actions"

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 4: Industry vs. inferiority (Ages 7-11)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 4: Industry vs. inferiority (Ages 7-11)

# data[].attributes.body
During Stage 4, children begin to develop self confidence in abilities that are competent. They may feel a sense of inferiority when they come across something they cannot do easily.

During school, she was very good at English, but not Math. She would often feel inferior because she was behind her fellow classmates. She practiced outside of school, which resulted in her gaining a little bit of skill!

"If children are unable to obtain the praise of others or lack motivation and self-esteem, they may develop a feeling of low self-worth and thus develop a sense of inferiority. This is problematic because during middle childhood, children must learn skills valued in their society."

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 5: Identity vs. confusion (Ages 12-18)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 5: Identity vs. confusion (Ages 12-18)

# data[].attributes.body
In Stage 5, early adolescents begin to gain a sense of who they are; they may experiment with their gender identity and roles, and sexuality; as well as learning about themselves.

During her later teenage years, between 16 and 18, my mother began to date boys in order to come to terms with her sexuality. She had previously been questioning it, and wanted to get a better understanding of what it meant to her.

"Boys and girls do equally well on tasks involving basic mathematical skills but show variations in specific abilities. Most of these differences emerge in elementary school or later"

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 6: Intimacy vs. isolation (Ages 19-29)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 6: Intimacy vs. isolation (Ages 19-29)

# data[].attributes.body
During Stage 6, adults begin to establish intimate roles and relationships with others. They may feel isolated if they struggle with forming these connections.

When my mother was around the age of 28, she met the man who would end up being my father. They grew close and developed an intimate relationship with each other. This allowed her to grow and establish a meaningful relationship with someone who meant a lot to her.

"By age 16, adolescents interact with and think about romantic partners more than parents, friends, or siblings"

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 7: Generativity vs. stagnation (Ages 30-64)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 7: Generativity vs. stagnation (Ages 30-64)

# data[].attributes.body
During Stage 7, adults may become part of a family. They being to provide for children, each other, and future generations.

My mother is currently providing for a family. Sometimes there are points of stagnation, due to some bad habits, but she and my father make due with what they have. She does her best to make sure that my brother and I have everything that we need.

"Parents’ educational level and family income also affect educational attainment, and the performance difference between wealthy and poor families has grown larger in the last few decades"

# data[].attributes.headline
Stage 8: Integrity vs. despair (Ages 65-Death)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stage 8: Integrity vs. despair (Ages 65-Death)

# data[].attributes.body
During Stage 8, adults begin to assess the meaning of their life. They may also begin to look back and assess the contributions that they have made for the people around them.

My mother is not currently in this stage. When I asked her about this one, she told me that she would think back on what she did for my brother and I. She wants to change some of her habits in order to teach us ways to be able to provide better for our future families.

"Research has shown that from childhood to early adulthood, prosocial reasoning based on personal reflection about consequences and on internalized values and norms increases with age, whereas reasoning based on stereotypes such as “it’s nice to help” decreases with age"