School age (7-11) Erikson stage?

• A. Trust vs Mistrust
• B. Identity vs Confusion
• C. Industry vs Inferiority
• D. Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt

Answer: (C)

In school-age children, the main developmental task is mastering new skills and earning recognition for effort and achievement. This is Erikson’s industry vs inferiority stage, typically spanning roughly ages 5 to 12. When kids experience success in tasks like reading, writing, math, sports, or crafts and receive positive feedback from teachers, parents, and peers, they develop a sense of industry—confidence in their ability to work hard and accomplish goals. If they encounter repeated failure, inconsistent support, or feel they don’t measure up to expectations, they may develop inferiority, doubting their own abilities and feeling a lack of worth. At ages 7–11, school demands rise and peer comparison becomes more prominent, so fostering effort, persistence, and mastery is key to building industry. By contrast, trust versus mistrust is the infant stage, autonomy versus shame/doubt is the toddler stage, and identity versus confusion comes with adolescence, not the school-age years.