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Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust
Nathaniel is a 6-month old baby. One evening, Nathaniel wakes up crying at night. His mother responds quickly, soothes him with a lullaby and gently rocks him back to sleep. Nathaniel feels secure that his mother will be there when she needs him, so he develops trust. Infants learn to trust when they receive consistent love and care from their caregivers. When they are neglected or care is inconsistent, infants may develop mistrust instead. -
Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority
At 12 years old, Nathaniel tries out for his school soccer team and puts in extra time practicing after school. When he scores a goal during a game and his teammates cheer, he feels proud and confident in what he can do. In this stage, children develop of sense of industry when then they are successful in their skills, confident in their abilities, and receive encouragement. If children repeatedly fail to meet expectations or receive criticism, they develop feelings of inferiority. -
Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation
In university, Nathaniel meets Grace and they quickly bond over shared humor and hobbies. As they spend more time together, their friendship develops into a committed, loving relationship. Through their close bond, Nathaniel experiences intimacy. When adults are able to build close relationships with trust and support, they achieve a sense of intimacy. However, if they struggle to form those bonds, they experience feelings of loneliness which leads to a sense of isolation.