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This stage occurs during old age. It is focused on reflection back on your life. People take a look back on the events that happened in their lives and determine if they are happy with the life that they lived, or if they regret the things they did or didn't do.

Erikson's theory is different from others because is addressed development through the entire lifespan - including old age. It is important for older adults to look back on their lives and feel a sense of fulfillment.

Being successful in this stage leads to feelings of wisdom. Failure results in feeling bitterness, regret, and despair.

In this stage, as people reflect on their life, they take stock of all they did. Those who feel they had a well-led life will feel satisfied and ready to face the end of their life in peace. They will feel a sense of integrity. They will attain wisdom.

Those who look back and feel regret, will feel fearful of their lives ending without accomplishing what they wanted to or should have. They may feel bitter.

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Occurs during adulthood.

Adults have a need to nurture or create something that will outlast them. This could be having children, or doing something that creates change benefiting other people. Success in this creates feelings of accomplishment and usefulness. Failing in this results in a shallow involvement in the world.

People successful in this stage will feel like they are contributing to the world by being active in their community and home. Failure at this skill will lead to feelings of being uninvolved and unproductive in the world.

The virtue achieved during this stage, if successful, is care. Being proud of your accomplishments is important during this stage.

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Occurs during early adulthood as people are exploring personal relationships.

It is important for young adults to have loving and intimate relationships with other people. This develops strong relationships when successful, and loneliness and isolation with this fails.

Developing committed, close relationships with other people is important. If this is successful, people will develop relationships that are enduring and secure.

People with a bad sense of self often have less committed relationships. They are also likely to struggle with loneliness, emotional isolation and depression.

Success in this stage creates the virtue known as love. People will have the ability to create meaningful and lasting relationships with other people.

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Occurs during the teenage years.

During this stage the teen develops a sense of personal identity. This will influence development and behavior for the rest of their life.

It is important for teens to develop a sense of self, and personal identity. Success is being able to stay true to themselves, while failure happens in role confusion and having a weak sense of self.

Teens who walk through this stage with encouragement and reinforcement, exploring personal things, will come out of this stage with a strong sense of self, and feelings of control and independence.

Teens are end up unsure about their desires and beliefs will feel confused and insecure about the future, and themselves.

According the psychologists, identity refers to all of the ideals, beliefs and values that help guide and shape someone's behavior.

Successful completion of this stage creates an ability to live by society's standards and expectations.

Erikson placed emphasis on the development of ego identity. That is, the "conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction and becomes a central focus during the identity vs. confusion stage of psychosocial development."

Ego identity constantly changes with new information and experiences that we acquire daily, in our interactions with people. As we have these new experiences we take on challenges that can either hinder of help the development of identity.

Identity is important because it is our cohesive sense of self that remains through our lives. It guides our beliefs, actions and behaviors as we continue to age.

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Occurs during the early school years from approximately ages 5 to 11.

Children start to develop a sense of pride in their abilities and accomplishments, through social interactions.

Children face new academic and social demands and must learn how to cope with them. They feel a sense of competence when they are successful, but feel inferior when they fail.

Having a feeling of competence comes from encouragement of parents and teachers believing in their skills.

If a child does not receive this encouragement, they will doubt their abilities to be successful.

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Occurs during the preschool years.

Children start to assert their control and power over the world through social interactions and direct play.

When children are successful in this stage they feel capable and able to lead others.

Children who do not acquire these skills have a sense of guilt, lack of initiative, and self-doubt.

The over-arching idea in this stage is that children need to begin to assert control and power over their environment. They are successful in this stage if they develop a sense of purpose.

A sense of guilt can result from children exerting too much power and experiencing disapproval.

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Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt - Stage Two

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Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt - Stage Two

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Occurs during early childhood and is focused on children developing a greater sense of personal control.

In this stage, children are starting to gain independence. They make simple decisions about what they prefer. They can perform basic actions on their own.

Allowing kids to do these things helps them develop a sense of autonomy.

Potty training is part of this stage, and is important for the child to gave a sense of autonomy.

Other important events in this stage are control over toy preferences, food choices,, and clothing selection.

Children who are shamed for their accidents and struggles may not develop a sense of personal control. Failure creates feeling of shame and doubt.

However success in this stage of development creates feelings of autonomy.

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Occurs between birth and 1 year of age.

This is the most fundamental stage in life.

The trust of the infant is based on the dependability/quality of their caregivers.

The infant is dependent upon caregivers for all of their needs. If the infant is not given adequate care and love, they will learn to not trust or depend upon the adults in their life. They will have a fear or belief that the world is inconsistent and unpredictable.

If the infant is able to develop trust, they will feel secure and safe in the world.

No child will have 100% trust or doubt. Successful development happens when there is a balance between the two opposing sides.