Infant

Birth to 18 months

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Ego Development Outcome:  Trust vs Mistrust

Basic Strength:  Drive and Hope

Main question:  is my environment trustworthy or not?

Developing trust is the first task of the ego.

Needs maximum comfort with minimal uncertainty to trust himself/herself, others, and the environment.

Erickson called this the Oral Sensory Stage.  Major emphasis is on the Mother's positive loving care for the child.  Big emphasis on visual contact and touch. 

Passing successfully through this stage produces trust.  If we fail to experience trust and are constantly frustrated because needs are not met, may end up with deep seated feelings of worthlessness and mistrust of the world in general is developed.

Toddler - Early Childhood

18 mo - 3 yrs

Ego Development Outcome:  Autonomy vs Shame

Basic Strengths:  Self control, courage and will

Main question asked:  Do I need help from others or not?

We learn to master skills for ourselves.  Learn to talk, walk, and feed self.  Developing fine motor skills and the ability to use the word "No".

Vulnerable if shamed during process of toilet training or learning other important skills.  Shame and doubt.

Most significant relationships are with parents.

Preschooler

3-5 years

Ego Development Outcome:  Initiative vs Guilt

Basic Strength:  Purpose

Main question asked:  How moral am I?

Begins to initiate, not imitate activities: develops conscience and sexual identity.

experience a desire to copy the adults around us and take the initiative in creating play situations.  Make up stories with toys, experimenting with the blueprint for what we believe it means to be an adult. 

Begin to use the word "Why".

Erickson downplays biological sexuality in favor of the psychosocial features of conflict between child and parents.

Usually become involved in the classic "Oedipal struggle" and resolve this through "social role identification."  May experience guilt.

Most significant relationship is with the basic family.

School Age Child

6 - 12 years

Ego Development Outcome:  Industry vs Inferiority

Basic Strengths:  Method and Competence

Main question asked:  Am I good at what I do?

Tries to develop a sense of self-worth be refining skills.

Often called Latency - capable of learning, creating and accomplishing numerous new skills and knowledge, thus developing a sense of industry. 

Also a very social stage of development, if we experience unresolved feelings of inadequacy and inferiority among our peers, we can have serious problems in terms of competence and self-esteem.

Most significant relationship is with the school and neighborhood.  Parents are no longer the complete authorities, although still important.

Adolescent

12-18 years

Ego Development Outcome:  Identity vs Role Confusion

Basic Strength:  Devotion and Fidelity

Tries integrating many roles (child, sibling, student, athlete, worker) into a self image under role model and peer pressure.

Up to this stage, according to Erickson, development mostly depends upon what is done to us.  From here on out, development depnds primarily upon what we do.  This is a stage where we are neither a child or adult, life is getting more complex as we attempt to find our own identity, struggle with social interactions, and grapple with moral issues.

Task is to discover who we are as individuals separate from our family of origin and as members of a wider society.  Many go into a period of withdrawing from responsibilities - moratorium.  If unsuccessful navigating this stage we experience confusion and upheaval.

Young Adult

18 - 35 years

Ego Development Outcome:  Intimacy and Solidarity vs Isolation

Basic Strengths:  Affiliation and Love

Learns to make personal commitment to another as spouse, parent or partner.

In initial state of being an adult, we seek one or more companions and love.  Try to find mutually satisfying relationships, primarily through marriage and friends. Generally begin a family.  Successfuln negotiation - experience intimacy on a deep level.

If not successful, isolation and distance form others may occur.  When we don't find it easy to create satisfying relationships, our world can begin to shrink as, in defense, we can feel superior to others.

Middle Adulthood

35 - 55 or 65

Ego Development Outcome:  Generativity vs Stagnation

Basic Strengths:  Production and Care

Seeks satisfaction through productivity in career, family, and civic interests.

Work is most crucial.  Middle age is when we tend to be occupied with creative and meaningful work and issues surrounding family.  Expect to "be in charge,"  a role we've long envied.

Task is to perpetuate culture and transmit values of the culture through the family (taming the kids) and working to establish a stable environment.  Care of others and production of something contributing to betterment of society - generativity.

As children leave home or relationships or goals change, may be faced with major life changes - mid life crisis - and struggle with finding new meanings and purposes.  Unsuccessful navigation of this stage - self absorption and stagnation.

Older Adult

55 or 65 to death

Ego Development Outcome:  Integrity vs Despair

Basic Strengths: Wisdom

Main question asked:  What kind of life have I lived?

Reviews life accomplishemnts, deals with loss and preparation for death.

Erickson felt much of life is preparing for middle adulthood and the last stage is recovering from it.  As older adults we can often look back on our lives with happiness and contentment.  Feel fulfilled with deep sense that life has meaning and we've made a contribution - integrity.

Some adults reach this stage and despair at their experiences and perceived failures.  They may fear death as they struggle to find a purpose to their lives, wondering, "was the trip worth it?"  Alternately, they may feel they have all the answers and end with a strong dogmatism that only their view has been correct.