What is Erikson's psychosocial stage for ages 5 to 12?

• A. Identity vs. Role Confusion
• B. Industry vs. Inferiority
• C. Intimacy vs. Isolation
• D. Initiative vs. Guilt

Answer: (B)

This stage centers on developing competence through school-age activities. In this period, children strive to master tasks, learn new skills, and contribute to groups like class or teams. When they receive encouragement and recognition for their efforts, they build a sense of industry — a belief that they can achieve meaningful work and accomplish goals. If effort is met with constant criticism or repeated failure, they may develop a sense of inferiority, doubting their abilities and pulling back from challenging tasks. The balance between feeling capable and feeling inadequate shapes motivation and self-esteem during these years. This phase sits between earlier, younger-child patterns like initiative versus guilt and the later focus on identity during adolescence; and it precedes the more intimate connections emphasized in adulthood.