During which Erikson stage does trust vs mistrust occur?

During which Erikson stage does trust vs mistrust occur?

• A. Infancy (Birth to 12 months)
• B. Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (1 to 3)
• C. Identity vs Role Confusion (11 to 18)
• D. Ego Integrity vs Despair (60 to end of life)

Answer: (A)

Trust versus mistrust is formed in the earliest stage of development. When a caregiver consistently meets an infant’s needs for food, comfort, safety, and affection, the baby learns that the world is reliable, which builds a sense of security and the foundation for trust. This leads to the virtue of hope, enabling the infant to approach new experiences with a sense of safety. If care is inconsistent or neglectful, the infant may come to view the world as unpredictable and frightening, fostering mistrust and anxiety about whether needs will be met. This sets the tone for how they relate to others later on. This stage sits in infancy, roughly birth to about the end of the first year. The other options correspond to later stages—autonomy versus shame and doubt in toddlerhood, identity versus role confusion in adolescence, and ego integrity versus despair in late life—so they don’t fit this early period.

Trust versus mistrust is formed in the earliest stage of development. When a caregiver consistently meets an infant’s needs for food, comfort, safety, and affection, the baby learns that the world is reliable, which builds a sense of security and the foundation for trust. This leads to the virtue of hope, enabling the infant to approach new experiences with a sense of safety. If care is inconsistent or neglectful, the infant may come to view the world as unpredictable and frightening, fostering mistrust and anxiety about whether needs will be met. This sets the tone for how they relate to others later on. This stage sits in infancy, roughly birth to about the end of the first year. The other options correspond to later stages—autonomy versus shame and doubt in toddlerhood, identity versus role confusion in adolescence, and ego integrity versus despair in late life—so they don’t fit this early period.