Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

identity
The distinguishing character 
of the individual: who each of us is, 
what our roles are, and what we are 
capable of.
Study Alert
The diff erence between the 
Kohlberg and Gilligan 
approaches to moral 
development is signifi cant. 
Kohlberg’s theory focuses 
on stages and Gilligan’s rests 
on gender diff erences.
Stage 
Approximate Age 
Positive Outcomes 
Negative Outcomes
1. Trust-vs.-mistrust 
Birth–1
1
/
2
years 
Feelings of trust from
Fear and concern
environmental support 
regarding others
2. Autonomy-vs.-shame- 1
1
/
2
–3 years 
Self-sufficiency if exploration is
Doubts about self, lack
and-doubt
encouraged
of independence
3. Initiative-vs.-guilt 
3–6 years 
Discovery of ways to initiate
Guilt from actions and
actions 
thoughts
4. Industry-vs.-inferiority 
6–12 years 
Development of sense of
Feelings of inferiority, 
competence
no sense of mastery
5. Identity-vs.-role- 
Adolescence 
Awareness of uniqueness of self,
Inability to identify
confusion 
knowledge of role to be followed
appropriate roles in life 
6. Intimacy-vs.-isolation 
Early adulthood 
Development of loving, sexual
Fear of relationships
relationships and close friendships
with others
7. Generativity-vs.- 
Middle adulthood 
Sense of contribution to
Trivialization of one’s 
stagnation 
continuity of life
activities
8. Ego-integrity-vs.- 
Late adulthood 
Sense of unity in life’s
Regret over lost
despair 
accomplishments 
opportunities of life
FIGURE 3 
Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. According to Erikson, people 
proceed through eight stages of psychosocial development across their lives. He suggested 
that each stage requires the resolution of a crisis or confl ict and may produce both positive 
and negative outcomes.
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