• Trust Vs Mistrust

• Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt

• Initiative vs. Guilt

• Describes a sense of hope of what is possible.

• Infant looks towards primary caregiver for stability and consistency.

• According to Erikson: this is the most important period of a child's life, as it shapes their view of the world as well as their overall personality (Cherry, Kendra MSDe, Trust vs. Mistrust: Psychosocial Stage 1 2022)

• Respond timely to infant's needs.

• Provide care and love to infants in your care.

• Provide a predictable routine.

• Provide meaningful interactions.

• Allow child to have a little more say over what they do and how they do it.

• Potty training to gain a sense of independence.

• Allow choices when feasible.

Gould, M., & Howson, A. (2021). Erikson’s Eight Stages of Development. Salem Press Encyclopedia.

Mcleod, S. (2024, January 25). Erikson’s stages of development. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/erik-erikson.html

Wassell, S. (2020, March 22). What is attachment? Content.iriss.org.uk. https://content.iriss.org.uk/attachment-theory-in-practice/what-is-attachment/#:~:text=Practice%20frameworks%20drawn%20from%20attachment

• Provide opportunities for attachment-without this child can fail to develop the sense of trust

• Provide quality care giving. Respond quickly and consistently.

• Both believed that early life experiences are crucial to development of our future selves.

• Comparing Erikson's Trust vs Mistrust and Bowlby's attachment theory is crucial to building a foundation of trust.

• Both believed that attachments that are formed in early life influence the ability to form healthy relationships.

• Pro's -

  • at least one attachment will raise self-esteem

  • at least one attachment will help with future relationships

• helps to manage child's emotions, impulses, and self-regulation

  
  

  Con's

  • with little to no attachment could cause mental illness

  • future relationships will be difficult

  • will have a low self-esteem

    
    

    
    

Madi Smith

Chrissy McCarraher

• John Bowlby's Attachment Theory

• Babies cannot be 'spoiled' by having their needs met (Erikson, Trust vs Mistrust)

  “A caregiver who consistently meets these needs instills a sense of trust or the belief that the world is a trustworthy place. The caregiver should not worry about overly indulging a child’s need for comfort, contact or stimulation.” (Child Growth And Development, Trust vs. Mistrust, Page 158)

• The quality of interactions can have major impact on a child's development

• Children learn best through play

  
  

• helps children learn

• encourages social interaction

• helps find self identity/independence

• requires co-existence

• helps in physical development

• not all cultures raise babies the same

• bonding through home language

• children with disabilities

He believed that:

• we are aware of what motivates us throughout life

• people make conscious choices in life which focus on meeting certain social and cultural needs rather than purely biological ones.