Real-Life Scenarios
Name That Stage
Strengths & Weaknesses
100

A baby cries, and their parent quickly feeds and comforts them

What is Trust vs. Mistrust

100

The stage that happens in early childhood (1.5-3 years) where toddlers insist on doing tasks like dressing themselves.

autonomy vs. shame and doubt

100

One major strength of Erikson's theory compared to Frued's

What is covers the entire lifespan

200

A 4th grader works hard on a science project and feels proud when the teacher praises it

What is industry vs. inferiority

200

the preschool stage (3-5) where kids love creating play games, like a pretend resuturant

initiative vs. guilt 

200

A weakness that means concepts like "identity crisis" are abstract and hard to measure scientifically

what is hard to test/vague

300

A teenager tries out different clothing styles and joins three different clubs to see where they fit in

What is identity vs. role confusion

300

the final adulthood stage  where a person looks back on  their life with pride or regret

integrity vs despair

300

A criticism that Erikson's model assumes everyone follows a strict linear order, ignoring unique life paths

what is too rigid/linear