For Erickson, the development of a psychologically healthy adult required the successful resolution of conflict at each developmental stage. He accounted for variation of emotional expression and behavior among individuals on their resolution of conflict along a continuum of healthy to unhealthy outcomes. The eight stages of psychosocial development coincide loosely with eight life stages. Five of these stages occur from infancy through adolescence. Early infancy is the stage of 'trust versus mistrust' in which the infant learns to view the world as a place where one can trust others to be supportive and caring, or a place where the infant cannot consistently rely on the support and nurturing of others.
Late infancy is the stage of 'autonomy versus shame and doubt'.
In this stage autonomy is the ability to control one's own actions, such as successful toileting. An inability to learn such control may result in feelings of shame and doubt. Early childhood is the stage of 'initiative versus guilt'. The child is confronted with the conflict of relationships with parents and unresolved feelings of love and hate. Middle childhood is the stage of 'industry versus inferiority'.