According to Erikson stages of development, a 4-year-old child comes under?

Appeared in: AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Explanation

According to Erikson's theory, the preschool stage covers children aged 3 to 6 years.
A 4-year-old child falls directly within this age bracket.
This stage is defined by the psychosocial crisis of 'Initiative vs. Guilt'.
During this period, children are focused on developing a sense of purpose by planning and initiating activities.

Option B: The 'Schooler' or school-age stage (Industry vs. Inferiority) applies to children aged 6 to 12 years, who are focused on developing competence in academic and social tasks.
Option C: The 'Toddler' stage (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt) is for children aged approximately 18 months to 3 years. Their main task is developing self-control and independence.
Option D: The 'Infant' stage (Trust vs. Mistrust) covers the first year of life (birth to 18 months), where the primary task is developing a basic sense of trust in caregivers.

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 Erikson's theory to tailor their communication and interventions to a child's developmental level. For a preschooler, this means using play to explain procedures and encouraging their participation to foster initiative.
Understanding this stage helps in providing anticipatory guidance to parents, advising them to encourage their child's curiosity and exploration while setting clear and safe limits to prevent feelings of guilt.
What if the child was 8 years old? The nurse's approach would shift to the 'Industry vs. Inferiority' stage. The focus would be on helping the child feel competent and productive, perhaps by letting them help with tasks like recording their fluid intake or organizing their bedside table.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: 'Erikson stages of development' and '4-year-old child'.
Recall or look up the age ranges for Erikson's early stages of development.
Match the child's age (4 years) to the corresponding stage.
The stage for ages 3-6 is 'Initiative vs. Guilt', which is associated with the 'Preschooler' category.
Evaluate the given options: 'Infant' (0-1.5 years), 'Toddler' (1.5-3 years), 'Preschooler' (3-6 years), and 'Schooler' (6-12 years).
Select the option that contains the 4-year-old age range.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
Stem keywords: Erikson stages of development, 4-year-old child
Lead-in keywords: According to
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

QECtRQAmIpWeQE-JHA8Ws_

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

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 1053-1055

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 2815-2817

Practise the full AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

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