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Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Ages Birth-18 months)

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Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Ages Birth-18 months)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Children develop a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliability, care and affection.  A lack of this will lead to mistrust.

My experience:
When I was an infant, my needs were met by my mom and dad.  My parents and caregivers were attentive and caring, and showed affection throughout this stage of development.  I earned to trust those closest to me.

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Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt (Ages 2-3 years)

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Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt (Ages 2-3 years)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Children need to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of independence.  Success leads to feelings of autonomy, failure results in feelings of shame and doubt.

My Experience:
I was allowed by my parents to take some independence and was allowed to develop as needed. My parents would provide assistance through scaffolding, but I was allowed to develop physically and cognitively at this age, as much as I could do myself.

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Stage 3:  Initiative vs. Guilt (Ages 3-5 years)

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Stage 3:  Initiative vs. Guilt (Ages 3-5 years)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment.  Success in this stage leads to a sense of purpose.  Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt.

My Experience:
I was a very explorative toddler.  I wanted to check out everything and wanted to be everywhere. I always knew the boundaries however as to not exert too much power or control. I sometimes think I explored too little at times.

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Stage 4:  Industry vs Inferiority (Ages 6-11 years)

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Stage 4:  Industry vs Inferiority (Ages 6-11 years)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Children need to cope with new social and academic demands.  Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.

My Experience:
When starting to go to school, it was difficult for me to make friends. I failed on the social aspect but started doing well on the academic spectrum to begin with.

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Stage 5:  Identity vs Role Confusion (Ages 12-18 years)

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Stage 5:  Identity vs Role Confusion (Ages 12-18 years)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity.  Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self.

My Experience:
When going through the first part of adolescence, I was able to have the freedom to find myself and who I was. This all changed in about the middle of this time, due to issues with family, and after going through tough times during that, I ended this time with a pretty weak sense of who I was and who I wanted to be.

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Stage 6:  Intimacy vs Isolation (Ages 19-40 years)

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Stage 6:  Intimacy vs Isolation (Ages 19-40 years)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other people.  Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation.

My Experience:
I was initially at the start of this period failing to make an intimate relationship, believing work was more important. but later on, was able to open up and began to form a lasting relationship with someone.

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Stage 7:  Generativity vs Stagnation (Ages 40-65 years)

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Stage 7:  Generativity vs Stagnation (Ages 40-65 years)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Adults need to create or nurture things that will outlast them, often by having children or creating a positive change that benefits other people.  Success leads to feelings of usefulness and accomplishment, while failure results in shallow involvement in the world.

My Experience:
I have not reached this stage of life yet, but I hope to be successful in this path. I am currently active in volunteerism and look forward to other involvements as my life progresses.

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Stage 8:  Ego Integrity vs Despair (Ages 65-Death)

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Stage 8:  Ego Integrity vs Despair (Ages 65-Death)

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Synopsis of this stage:
Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of fulfillment.  Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair.

My Experience:
I have not yet reached this stage in my life, but I do know that I wish to have a sense of fulfillment by the end of my life. I want to feel as if I had made a difference.