Erikson Virtues and Dangers

Stage (age)	Psychosocial crisis	Virtue	Maladaptations & malignancies
I (0-1) -- infant	trust vs mistrust	Hope	withdrawal- I have been abandoned
II (2-3) -- toddler	autonomy vs shame and doubt	Will Power	impulsivity -- compulsion- my body and I are bad therefore I must very carefully control everything I do.
III (3-6) -- preschooler	initiative vs guilt	Purpose	ruthlessness -- inhibition- Sometimes I am terrified that others will be so angy at me for what I want to do that they will harm or destroy me.
IV (7-12 or so) -- school-age child	industry vs inferiority	Competency	inertia- I am worthless. At best, I can only achieve recognition for things I do or produce.
V (12-18 or so) --adolescence	ego-identity vs role-confusion	Devotion and Fidelity	Role repudiation. I have no idea who I am or where I am going
VI (the 20’s) -- young adult	intimacy vs isolation	Love	promiscuity -- exclusivity I melt within someone
VII (late 20’s to 50’s) -- middle adult	generativity vs self-absorption	Production and Care	overextension -- rejection self responsibility can become self absorption
VIII (50’s and beyond) -- old adult	integrity vs despair	Wisdom	despair- I feel depressed.

Chart adapted from Erikson's 1959 Identity and the Life Cycle (Psychological Issues vol 1, #1)