Development theories
The child development theories discussed in this chart shouldn’t be compared directly because they measure different aspects of development. Erik Erikson’s psychosocial-based theory is the most commonly accepted model for child development, although it can’t be empirically tested.
| Age-group | Psychosocial theory | Cognitive theory | Psycho-sexual theory | Moral development theory |
| Infancy (birth to age 1) | Trust versus mistrust | Sensori-motor (birth to age 2) | Oral | Not applicable |
| Toddlerhood (ages 1 to 3) | Autonomy versus shame and doubt | Sensori-motor to preopera-tional | Anal | Preconventional |
| Preschool age (ages 3 to 6) | Initiative versus guilt | Preopera-tional (ages 2 to 7) | Phallic | Preconventional |
| School age (ages 6 to 12) | Industry versus inferiority | Concrete operational (ages 7 to 11) | Latency | Conventional |
| Adolescence (ages 12 to 19) | Identity versus role confusion | Formal operational thought (ages 11 to 15) | Genitalia | Postconventional |
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
