Which Eriksonian stage occurs during adolescence, focusing on developing a personal identity vs role confusion?

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

Answer: (A)

During adolescence, the central task is figuring out who you are and what you want to become, shaping a personal identity that can guide choices about beliefs, values, and future roles. This aligns with Erikson’s stage of Identity vs Role Confusion. When young people successfully form a stable sense of self, they develop fidelity—the ability to commit to relationships and ideals with a clear sense of who they are. If this process is disrupted, role confusion can occur, leaving the adolescent uncertain about their path and how they fit into society.

This stage is distinct from earlier ones: Trust vs Mistrust is about infancy and forming basic trust; Autonomy vs Shame concerns developing independence in early childhood; Industry vs Inferiority relates to building competence during the school-age years. The adolescence stage specifically centers on identity formation, making it the best description for this question.