What is the first stage in Erikson's Psychosocial Theory?

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

Answer: (A)

In Erikson’s framework, the first stage centers on trust versus mistrust, which unfolds in infancy as the child depends on caregivers to meet basic needs like nourishment, warmth, and responsive care. When these needs are met consistently, the child learns to trust that others will be reliable, building a sense of safety and the virtue of hope to carry into later development. If care is inconsistent or neglectful, mistrust can take hold, making the child doubt whether the world can be depended upon. This early sense lays the groundwork for future relationships and how securely a person engages with others. The other stages—Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt in the toddler years, Initiative versus Guilt in early childhood, and Industry versus Inferiority in the school-age years—are later conflicts that build on that foundation.