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"But when the balance of care is sympathetic and living, the psychological conflict of the first year - basic trust versus mistrust - is resolved on the positive side" (pg. 172). Trust vs. mistrust begins at birth and goes until around 18 months. Trust at this age looks like believing in caregivers, trusting that the world is safe and knowing that their needs will be met. Mistrust looks like distrusting caregivers, fearing the world, and unsure that needs will be met. From what my mom told me, I had a hard time trusting new people, like my sister’s friends who didn’t come around much. I also reacted better to women than I did to men.

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"The conflict of autonomy versus shame and doubt is resolved favorably when parents provide young children with suitable guidance and reasonable choices" (pg. 173). Autonomy vs. shame and doubt begins at ages 18 months and lasts until about 3 years. At this age, students are learning new life skills like toilet training, feeding themselves, and putting away toys. In order to have a self-confident toddler, parents/guardians should have patience and keep in mind that the toddler is in a transition period where they are learning how to function as a real human. I started choosing what I wore every day and didn’t let anyone else pick my outfits at around age 2. This showed autonomy at this age for me.

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"As the word initiative suggests, young children have a new sense of purposefulness. They are eager to tackle new tasks, join in activities with peers and discover what they an do with the help of adults" (pg. 246). Initiative vs. guilt occurs between the ages of 3-5 years. Children are often enrolled in preschool at this age, so those students are exposed to other kids. Through those experiences they are encouraged to play and take initiative in their lives. This is when I started to make friends who I would hangout with regularly and understand the difference between good and bad.

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"...the psychological conflict of middle childhood, industry versus inferiority, which is resolved positively when experiences lead children to develop a sense of competence at useful skills and tasks" (pg. 321). Industry vs. inferiority goes from ages 6-11 years. The main danger of this stage is inferiority, and this time marks a huge change in children's lives. Usually kids begin formal schooling at this age. Some kids also begin puberty, marking a huge transition in their lives. Schoolwork began to be a bigger aspect in my life, and the importance of school began to be stressed. If I did not turn in homework on time, I would have feelings of failure and disappointment on myself, but when I did well on a test, I would be proud and excited for myself. Academic validation was a large part of my life at this time, and this would carry on to the rest of my life.

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"If young people's earlier conflicts were resolved negatively or if society limits their choices to ones that do not match their abilities and desires, they may appear shallow, directionless, and unprepared for the challenges of adulthood" (pg. 398). Identity vs. confusion happens between the ages of 12-18. Questioning values, plans and priorities is an essential part to growing up, and how the stages before identity vs. confusion were handled plays a large role in a person's identity at this age. For many people, growing up can be scary and traumatic, but it is also a time of exploration, followed by commitment. I had a very hard time during this stage and I went through many phases to find who I am/was as a person. I started high school at this stage, and I tried out a different school out of my comfort zone at the age of 13-14. I was not very confident in myself and my actions, so this was a turning point in my life that I still reflect on today.

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"Young adults establish intimate relationships. Because of earlier disappointments, some individuals cannot form close bonds and remain isolated" (pg. 10). Intimacy vs. isolation occurs between the ages of 19 and 40 years. Due to previous experiences and traumas, individuals can have a hard time forming genuine relationships. People have to choose between opening themselves up to intimacy, or closing themselves off for isolation. During COVID times, people often have turned to isolation due to stay-at-home orders, and it has been hard for people entering this stage because intimate relationships are unable to be formed. I am currently in this stage, and relationships are a huge part of my life, and the people’s lives around me. I am finding out who is truly important to me and I am finding I am not friends with the same people I was friends with in high school when I was going through my identity vs. confusion phase.

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"Generativity means giving to the next generation through child rearing, caring for others, or productive work. The person who fails in these ways feels an absence of meaningful accomplishment" (pg. 10). Generativity versus stagnation occurs between the ages of 40 to 65 years. We can see this stage happening when these individuals care for their kids, grandkids, significant others, and so on. It is becoming more normal for people to choose not to have children and put themselves and their career first. These plans and feelings are mainly established during the intimacy vs. isolation stage, and those plans carry over into the generativity versus stagnation stage. I believe that intimacy vs. isolation sets you up for what happens in this stage. When you have a family with children, you get to see them grow. Some individuals choose to not have kids and to just focus on themselves and their career. I am not sure where I will be at this point in my life, as it all depends on how my current stage goes.

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"Integrity results from feeling that life was worth living as it happened. Older people who are dissatisfied with their lives fear death" (pg. 10). Integrity versus despair begins approximately at age 65 and lasts until death. The major question individuals have at this age is, "did I have a meaningful life?" This is a deeply personal question, and a meaningful life varies from person to person. If you feel unfulfilled at this age, you fear death, but if you feel like you lived a meaningful life, you are not afraid for the next step in your life. I am interested to see what happens in my life and how I view my life in the future.