Infants learn to rely on caregivers for basic needs, fostering trust; inconsistency may lead to mistrust and anxiety in environment. Which Erikson stage is this?

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

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is forming trust through reliable caregiving in infancy. When a caregiver consistently meets a baby’s basic needs—food, comfort, safety—the infant learns to trust that the world can be depended on to care for them. This builds a sense of security and a belief that supplies and comfort will be available when needed. If care is unpredictable or neglectful, the infant may develop mistrust and anxiety about whether needs will be met, which can affect how they view people and the environment later on.

This describes the first stage of Erikson’s psychosocial development, where the central challenge is trust versus mistrust. A healthy resolution leads to the virtue of hope, the belief that even in difficult times, the world can be trusted to provide support. The other stages—autonomy versus shame/doubt, initiative versus guilt, and industry versus inferiority—occur at later ages as children gain independence, plan and attempt new activities, and pursue competence in school.