Erikson's stages of psychosocial development

Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god. – Aristotle

Approximate Age Virtues Psychosocial crisis Significant relationship Existential question Examples
Infancy
Under 2 years		 Hope Trust
vs.
Mistrust		 Mother Can I trust the world? Feeding, abandonment
Toddlerhood
2–4 years		 Will Autonomy
vs.
Shame/Doubt		 Parents Is it okay to be me? Toilet training, clothing themselves
Early childhood
5–8 years		 Purpose Initiative
vs.
Guilt		 Family Is it okay for me to do, move, and act? Exploring, using tools or making art
Middle Childhood
9–12 years		 Competence Industry
vs.
Inferiority		 Neighbors, School Can I make it in the world of people and things? School, sports
Adolescence
13–19 years		 Fidelity Identity
vs.
Role Confusion		 Peers, Role Model Who am I? Who can I be? Social relationships
Early adulthood
20–39 years		 Love Intimacy
vs.
Isolation		 Friends, Partners Can I love? Romantic relationships
Middle Adulthood
40–59 years		 Care Generativity
vs.
Stagnation		 Household, Workmates Can I make my life count? Work, parenthood
Late Adulthood
60 and above		 Wisdom Ego Integrity
vs.
Despair		 Mankind, My kind Is it okay to have been me? Reflection on life