Stage of Psychosocial Issues & Tasks

All humans learn by interacting and watching other humans. A child deprived of contact with others cannot learn socially appropriate behaviors. Erik Erikson is well known for his documentation of this process which he calls his Social Theory. His theory is based on a series of stages. His theory has more stages than I have listed here but I have focused on those that are related to early childhood.

During the first stage of Trust vs Mistrust, the child is developing a sense of trust or mistrust in the world and those in it. During this time, if the infant receives care that is primarily consistent and from a familiar person over time, the child learns to trust in that person and the world (See Trust Cycle). If, however, the child is handed off to a variety of people who provide the initial care, or if the child's needs are not adequately met, the child learns to mistrust the world.

Whether the child develops trust, or mistrust, then determines the course of the other stages. A child that mistrusts the world might be less likely to go after and seek out new things in the world, or might be stifled by feelings of self-doubt or shame based on feelings of being so unworthy, no one provided care.