According to Psychosocial Stage Theory, what must be mastered at each stage?

In Psychosocial Stage Theory, developed by Erik Erikson, each stage of development presents individuals with specific psychosocial tasks or crises that must be navigated and mastered to foster healthy psychological development and form a strong sense of identity. These tasks are fundamentally about the relationship between the individual and their social environment, and they culminate in competence across various facets of life including trust, autonomy, initiative, and integrity.

Each stage corresponds to different age groups and encapsulates a unique challenge, such as trust vs. mistrust in infancy or identity vs. role confusion during adolescence. Successfully addressing these tasks contributes to the development of a positive foundation for future growth, while failure to navigate these psychosocial challenges can lead to difficulties in later stages.

Mastering these psychosocial tasks is crucial for developing personal and social identity, emotional resilience, and building healthy relationships, which aligns with Erikson’s overarching framework of human development across the lifespan.