Which stage is characterized by imagination and enjoying play-acting adult roles, with a sense of guilt if initiation of activities is not successful?

Which stage is characterized by imagination and enjoying play-acting adult roles, with a sense of guilt if initiation of activities is not successful?

• A. Identity vs. Role Confusion
• B. Industry vs. Inferiority
• C. Initiative vs. Guilt
• D. Intimacy vs. Isolation

Answer: (C)

This item is about Erikson's stage of Initiative versus Guilt, which appears in early childhood. At this age, children eagerly take the lead in activities, use their imagination, and engage in pretend play, often acting out adult roles to explore how the world works and to practice independence. When their initiatives are welcomed and supported, they gain a sense of initiative and purpose, feeling capable of starting tasks and guiding activities. But if their attempts at initiating actions are punished, dismissed, or overly controlled, they can develop guilt about pursuing their ideas and acting on their impulses, which can curb future initiative. The description—imaginative play and enjoying taking on adult roles, with guilt if initiating activities isn’t successful—fits this stage best. By contrast, identity vs. role confusion pertains to adolescence and developing a personal identity; industry vs. inferiority centers on mastery and competence in school-age years; intimacy vs. isolation relates to forming close relationships in young adulthood.

This item is about Erikson's stage of Initiative versus Guilt, which appears in early childhood. At this age, children eagerly take the lead in activities, use their imagination, and engage in pretend play, often acting out adult roles to explore how the world works and to practice independence. When their initiatives are welcomed and supported, they gain a sense of initiative and purpose, feeling capable of starting tasks and guiding activities. But if their attempts at initiating actions are punished, dismissed, or overly controlled, they can develop guilt about pursuing their ideas and acting on their impulses, which can curb future initiative. The description—imaginative play and enjoying taking on adult roles, with guilt if initiating activities isn’t successful—fits this stage best. By contrast, identity vs. role confusion pertains to adolescence and developing a personal identity; industry vs. inferiority centers on mastery and competence in school-age years; intimacy vs. isolation relates to forming close relationships in young adulthood.