Psychosocial development

Baby Pou cries whenever its caretaker leaves but smiles and coos when they return. Because of constant care and love, it feels safe.

Question: What stage is Pou in, and what virtue is developed here?

• Trust vs. Mistrust – Hope

• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt – Will

• Initiative vs. Guilt – Purpose

• Industry vs. Inferiority – Competence

Toddler Pou wants to eat on its own, but its caretaker keeps feeding it. Pou starts to doubt if it can do things alone.

Question: What might Pou develop from this situation?

• Autonomy and confidence

• Shame and doubt

• Initiative and leadership

• Integrity and wisdom

Child Pou loves “helping out” by cooking imaginary meals for its caretaker. But when scolded for making a mess, Pou feels guilty for trying.

Question: What conflict is shown here?

• Identity vs. Role Confusion

• Initiative vs. Guilt

• Trust vs. Mistrust

• Generativity vs. Stagnation

School-age Pou is proud after finishing its homework early and getting a gold star. But when others do better, it feels “not good enough.”

Question: What is this stage about?

• Industry vs. Inferiority – Developing competence

• Autonomy vs. Shame – Gaining willpower

• Integrity vs. Despair – Accepting life

• Identity vs. Role Confusion – Finding self

Teen Pou keeps changing styles — emo one day, athlete the next. It’s figuring out who it really is.

Question: Which psychosocial stage is this?

• Generativity vs. Stagnation

• Identity vs. Role Confusion

• Initiative vs. Guilt

• Intimacy vs. Isolation

Adult Pou meets another Pou and forms a close friendship. But after a fight, Pou isolates itself out of fear of getting hurt again.

Question: What’s the main conflict here?

• Trust vs. Mistrust

• Autonomy vs. Shame

• Intimacy vs. Isolation

• Industry vs. Inferiority

Pou now has a job and helps younger Pous in the community grow. It finds happiness in nurturing others.

Question: What virtue is Pou developing?

• Care – Generativity vs. Stagnation

• Wisdom – Integrity vs. Despair

• Purpose – Initiative vs. Guilt

• Hope – Trust vs. Mistrust

Old Pou looks back at its life, proud of how it cared for others and learned from mistakes. It smiles peacefully, knowing it lived fully.

Question: Which final stage does this show?

• Integrity vs. Despair – Wisdom

• Identity vs. Role Confusion – Fidelity

• Intimacy vs. Isolation – Love

• Autonomy vs. Shame – Will