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Roberta (age 2) is upset because she wants to dress herself, and her mother is choosing all of her clothes. This stage is all about giving the child the freedom to explore and do things independently. If a child in this stage is met with a lot of criticism, they may start doubting their abilities (autonomy). Growing autonomy looks like offering choices and respecting the child's answers without shutting them down. -
Roberta (age 10) is struggling to learn multiplication. Her parents are encouraging, so she does not give up and begins to understand the concept. This stage is all about confidence. This is when a child learns to trust themselves and their abilities to do hard things. If a child is constantly receiving negative feedback, they may begin to develop the feeling of not being good enough(inferiority). This affects their self-confidence, which can impact their willingness to try new things. -
Roberta (age 20) just got engaged to her boyfriend of 3 years. She is excited to have someone there to support her. Success in this stage looks like meaningful relationships. People can develop love. This results in deep, committed, and intimate relationships. This can create feelings of safety, care, and belonging. Failure in this stage can create isolation due to not being in a meaningful relationship. There is less support due to the lack of friendship.