Development: Erikson stages: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Development: Erikson stages

Sample item

According to Erikson, the psychosocial crisis of school age (about 6 to 12 years) is:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Industry versus inferiority

Erikson's stages: trust versus mistrust (infancy), autonomy versus shame (toddler), initiative versus guilt (preschool), industry versus inferiority (school age), identity versus role confusion (adolescence). Later stages are intimacy, generativity and integrity.

Option by option

  • A. Identity versus role confusion

    Identity versus role confusion is adolescence.

  • B. Industry versus inferiority (correct)

    Correct. School age is industry versus inferiority.

  • C. Initiative versus guilt

    Initiative versus guilt is the preschool stage.

  • D. Trust versus mistrust

    Trust versus mistrust is infancy.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Industry versus inferiority. Erikson's stages: trust versus mistrust (infancy), autonomy versus shame (toddler), initiative versus guilt (preschool), industry versus inferiority (school age), identity versus role confusion (adolescence).

Why is "Identity versus role confusion" not the answer?

Identity versus role confusion is adolescence.

Why is "Initiative versus guilt" not the answer?

Initiative versus guilt is the preschool stage.

Why is "Trust versus mistrust" not the answer?

Trust versus mistrust is infancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Development: Erikson stages in Psychiatry. Later stages are intimacy, generativity and integrity.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Development: Erikson stages?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.