In Erikson's psychosocial theory, which stage occurs during infancy and asks 'Can a baby trust the world to fulfill its needs?'

In Erikson's psychosocial theory, which stage occurs during infancy and asks 'Can a baby trust the world to fulfill its needs?'

• A. Trust vs Mistrust
• B. Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt
• C. Initiative vs Guilt
• D. Industry vs Inferiority

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how infants form a sense of safety and reliability in the world based on whether their needs are met. In Erikson’s framework, the infancy stage centers on the crisis of Trust vs Mistrust. When caregivers consistently respond to an infant’s needs—feeding, comforting, soothing—the baby learns the world is dependable and develops a basic sense of trust. This trust lays a foundation of hope and security for later development. If care is inconsistent or neglectful, the infant may come to expect disappointment, leading to mistrust about others and the environment. Other stages move the child into new challenges: autonomy versus shame and doubt appears in toddlerhood as independence grows; initiative versus guilt in the preschool years involves planning and taking initiative; industry versus inferiority emerges during school age as skills and competence are developed. But the question specifically targets infancy and whether the world will fulfill needs, which points to Trust vs Mistrust.

The key idea here is how infants form a sense of safety and reliability in the world based on whether their needs are met. In Erikson’s framework, the infancy stage centers on the crisis of Trust vs Mistrust. When caregivers consistently respond to an infant’s needs—feeding, comforting, soothing—the baby learns the world is dependable and develops a basic sense of trust. This trust lays a foundation of hope and security for later development. If care is inconsistent or neglectful, the infant may come to expect disappointment, leading to mistrust about others and the environment.

Other stages move the child into new challenges: autonomy versus shame and doubt appears in toddlerhood as independence grows; initiative versus guilt in the preschool years involves planning and taking initiative; industry versus inferiority emerges during school age as skills and competence are developed. But the question specifically targets infancy and whether the world will fulfill needs, which points to Trust vs Mistrust.