Which Eriksonian stage corresponds to the school-age years and is associated with the crisis of industry vs inferiority?

Which Eriksonian stage corresponds to the school-age years and is associated with the crisis of industry vs inferiority?

• A. Industry vs inferiority
• B. Autonomy vs shame/doubt
• C. Identity vs role confusion
• D. Trust vs mistrust

Answer: (A)

Industry vs inferiority is the Eriksonian stage tied to school-age years. In this period children focus on mastering new skills—reading, writing, arithmetic, sports, and social roles. When they receive encouragement and see their efforts lead to real progress, they develop a sense of industry: a belief that they can work hard, learn, and achieve goals. If tasks feel consistently beyond reach or they’re met with repeated criticism or lack of support, they may develop a sense of inferiority, doubting their abilities and feeling less capable compared with peers. This contrasts with the other stages: autonomy vs shame/doubt is the earlier child-initiated push for independence; identity vs role confusion occurs in adolescence as they form their sense of self; and trust vs mistrust is the infancy stage about basic reliance on caregivers.

Industry vs inferiority is the Eriksonian stage tied to school-age years. In this period children focus on mastering new skills—reading, writing, arithmetic, sports, and social roles. When they receive encouragement and see their efforts lead to real progress, they develop a sense of industry: a belief that they can work hard, learn, and achieve goals. If tasks feel consistently beyond reach or they’re met with repeated criticism or lack of support, they may develop a sense of inferiority, doubting their abilities and feeling less capable compared with peers.

This contrasts with the other stages: autonomy vs shame/doubt is the earlier child-initiated push for independence; identity vs role confusion occurs in adolescence as they form their sense of self; and trust vs mistrust is the infancy stage about basic reliance on caregivers.