Erikson's and Piaget's Stages

Vocabulary flashcards covering Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages of development and Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development, including age ranges, conflicts, virtues, descriptions, and developmental phenomena.

Trust vs. mistrust

The basic conflict during Erikson's Infancy stage (0–1 year) where the individual develops trust (or mistrust) that basic needs, such as nourishment and affection, will be met

Autonomy vs. shame/doubt

The basic conflict during Erikson's Early childhood stage (1–3 years) where the individual develops a sense of independence in many tasks

Initiative vs. guilt

The basic conflict during Erikson's Play age stage (3–6 years) where children take initiative on some activities and may develop guilt when unsuccessful or boundaries are overstepped; associated with the virtue of Purpose.

Industry vs. inferiority

The basic conflict during Erikson's School age stage (7–11 years) where children develop self-confidence in abilities when competent or a sense of inferiority when not; associated with the virtue of Competence.

Identity vs. confusion

The basic conflict during Erikson's Adolescence stage (12–18 years) where individuals experiment with and develop identity and roles; associated with the virtue of Fidelity.

Intimacy vs. isolation

The basic conflict during Erikson's Early adulthood stage (19–29 years) where individuals establish intimacy and relationships with others; associated with the virtue of Love.

Generativity vs. stagnation

The basic conflict during Erikson's Middle age stage (30–64 years) where individuals contribute to society and be part of a family; associated with the virtue of Care.

Integrity vs. despair

The basic conflict during Erikson's Old age stage (65 onward) where individuals assess and make sense of life and the meaning of contributions; associated with the virtue of Wisdom.

Sensorimotor stage

Piaget's stage from birth to nearly 2 years, characterized by experiencing the world through senses and actions (looking, touching, mouthing, and grasping); developmental phenomena include object permanence and stranger anxiety.

Preoperational stage

Piaget's stage from 2 to about 6 or 7 years, characterized by representing things with words and images and using intuitive rather than logical reasoning; developmental phenomena include pretend play, egocentrism, and language development.

Concrete operational stage

Piaget's stage from about 7 to 11 years, characterized by thinking logically about concrete events, grasping concrete analogies, and performing arithmetical operations; developmental phenomena include conservation and mathematical transformations.

Formal operational stage

Piaget's stage from about 12 through adulthood, characterized by abstract reasoning; developmental phenomena include abstract logic and potential for mature moral reasoning.

Object permanence

A developmental phenomenon that occurs during Piaget's sensorimotor stage (birth to nearly 2 years).

Egocentrism

A developmental phenomenon that occurs during Piaget's preoperational stage (2 to about 6 or 7 years).

Conservation

A developmental phenomenon that occurs during Piaget's concrete operational stage (about 7 to 11 years).