Erik Erikson and Eight Stages of Life
Transition: progress or change from one place, state, or condition to another
Each stage of Erikson's theory represents a challenge or conflict an individual is faced with.  If the challenge is successfully resolved, the individual makes a healthy transition to the next stage having acquired experiences and understandings to help resolve the challenges of following stages.  Failure to adequately deal with the challenges of a particular stage makes resolving the conflicts of following stages more difficult.
1. Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust
2. Early childhood: Autonomy vs. Doubt and Shame
3. Play age: Initiative vs. Guilt
4. School age: Industry vs. Inferiority
5. Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion
6. Young adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation
7. Adulthood: Generativity vs. Stagnation
8. Mature adulthood: Integrity vs. Despair
To think about:  What are some of the tasks adolescents must deal with to establish a clear, healthy identity?