Huan is 20 months old, and his mother is in a hurry. She wants to put his shoes on for him, but Huan rejects that by squirming and declaring, "No! Me!" It takes him five minutes, and his shoes end up on the wrong feet, but he proudly skips out to the car when he's done. Huan is in Erikson's _____ stage.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Huan's behavior is typical of the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage in Erikson's psychosocial development theory. This stage occurs between 18 months and 3 years old, and during this time, children are learning to assert their independence and develop their sense of self. Huan's desire to put on his shoes himself and his declaration of "No! Me!" show that he is beginning to assert his autonomy and independence, which is a key aspect of the stage. The fact that his shoes end up on the wrong feet is also common at this stage, as children are still learning the skills they need to be independent.

Huan Is 20 Months Old, and His Mother Is in a Hurry