BTSC 3 August 2025
Applied Psychology
Easy
What is the psychosocial stage of an infant as per Erik Erikson?
Appeared in: BTSC 3 August 2025
Explanation
- According to Erikson's theory, Trust vs. Mistrust is the first stage of psychosocial development, occurring from birth to approximately 18 months.
- During this stage, the infant is entirely dependent on caregivers, and the quality of care determines the outcome.
- Consistent, reliable care fosters a sense of trust and security, leading to the development of the virtue of hope.
- Inconsistent or neglectful care leads to mistrust, fear, and a belief that the world is unpredictable and dangerous.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: This stage is characteristic of young adulthood, not infancy.
- Option C: This stage applies to preschool-aged children, not infants.
- Option D: This stage is for toddlers, which is the developmental period after infancy.
Related Visual
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.
- Understanding this stage is crucial for nurses caring for infants. Nursing interventions should focus on promoting trust by responding promptly to the infant's needs (crying, hunger, discomfort) and encouraging parent-infant bonding.
- A nurse can educate new parents on the importance of consistent, loving care to foster a secure attachment, which is vital for the child's future emotional and social development.
- What if an infant requires a long hospitalization (e.g., in the NICU)? The nursing action would be to establish a primary nurse or a consistent team of caregivers to minimize the number of different people handling the infant. This helps simulate a consistent care environment, which is critical for developing trust when parents cannot always be present.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key terms in the question: 'infant' and 'Erik Erikson'. This directs you to a specific developmental theory and a specific age group.
- Recall the sequence of Erikson's eight stages of psychosocial development. The theory is chronological, starting from birth.
- Match the age group 'infant' (birth to ~18 months) to the first stage in the sequence.
- Evaluate the options provided. 'Trust vs. Mistrust' is the first stage. The other options (Autonomy vs. Shame, Initiative vs. Guilt, Intimacy vs. Isolation) correspond to later life stages (toddler, preschooler, and young adult, respectively).
- Select 'Trust vs. Mistrust' as the correct stage for an infant.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
- Stem keywords: psychosocial stage, infant, Erik Erikson
- Lead-in keywords: What is
- Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Q7trx27GZZxOb5aBzVedXe
Reference Book
E6 Psychology Baron Misra 5e Part 1 p. 312-314
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 3369-3371
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 3057-3059
Practise the full BTSC 3 August 2025
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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