A school age child belongs to which of the psychosocial stage of Erikson?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Explanation

According to Erikson's theory, the 'Industry vs. Inferiority' stage corresponds to the school-age years, typically from age 6 to 12.
During this stage, children are focused on mastering new skills, both academic and social. Peer groups become a major source of self-esteem.
Successful navigation of this stage leads to a sense of competence and industry, while repeated failures can lead to feelings of inferiority and inadequacy.

Option A: Trust vs. Mistrust is the first stage of psychosocial development, occurring in infancy (birth to 18 months).
Option C: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is the second stage, occurring during the toddler years (1 to 3 years).
Option D: Initiative vs. Guilt is the third stage, associated with preschool-aged children (3 to 6 years).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use knowledge of Erikson's stages to provide age-appropriate care, communication, and patient education. For a school-age child, this includes encouraging their involvement in their care (e.g., keeping a simple record of intake) to foster a sense of industry.
Understanding this stage helps in assessing a child's developmental progress and identifying potential issues if they show excessive feelings of inadequacy or are not engaging with peers.
What if? If the child was a preschooler (age 4), the correct stage would be 'Initiative vs. Guilt,' where the focus is on developing a sense of purpose and taking initiative in play and activities.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'school age child'.
Recall the age range associated with 'school age,' which is approximately 6 to 12 years.
Next, recall Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development and their corresponding age groups.
Match the identified age range (6-12 years) to the correct stage in Erikson's theory.
Evaluate the options: 'Industry vs. Inferiority' is the stage for school-age children. The other options correspond to infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool age, respectively.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
Stem keywords: school age child, psychosocial stage, Erikson
Lead-in keywords: belongs to which
Clinical cues: Cue: 'school age child' - This directly points to a specific developmental period (approximately 6-12 years) in developmental theories like Erikson's.

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E6 Psychology Baron Misra 5e Part 1 p. 312-314

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 1053-1055

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 p. 164-166

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.