Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Psychology & Mental Health

Test Your Developmental Task Knowledge! Take the Quiz

Dive into stages of development: Take our developmental milestones test now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art showing layered life stages icons from infant to senior on dark blue background

Wondering what is the developmental task at every life phase? Our free developmental stages quiz invites curious minds to explore Erickson developmental tasks from infancy to late adulthood. Through a series of stages of development questions, you'll test your knowledge against key milestones and see how well you recognize those pivotal moments. By taking this developmental milestones test, you'll sharpen your insight into growth patterns and better guide others - whether you're a student, educator, or simply passionate about human development. Ready to dive deeper? Jump into this in-depth developmental milestones quiz or flex your theory muscles with a fun developmental psychology quiz - challenge yourself now and see your score!

What is the primary developmental task during infancy (0-1 year) according to Erikson?
Initiative vs guilt
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
Trust vs mistrust
Industry vs inferiority
Erikson's first stage of psychosocial development focuses on establishing trust when caregivers provide reliability, care, and affection. Successfully developing trust leads to a sense of security. Failure may result in fear and suspicion. source
Which developmental task best describes the toddler stage (1-3 years)?
Trust vs mistrust
Initiative vs guilt
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
Identity vs role confusion
During the toddler years, children develop a sense of personal control and independence. Success leads to autonomy, while failure results in feelings of shame and doubt. This balance is central to Erikson's second stage. source
The primary task in the preschool stage (3-6 years) is:
Trust vs mistrust
Initiative vs guilt
Identity vs role confusion
Generativity vs stagnation
In Erikson's third stage, children assert power and control through directing play and social interactions. Successful initiative fosters leadership and decision-making abilities. Overly harsh criticism can lead to guilt. source
During the elementary school years (6-12 years), the key developmental task is:
Intimacy vs isolation
Integrity vs despair
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
Industry vs inferiority
Erikson's fourth stage centers on mastering social and academic skills. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. This stage is critical for self-esteem development. source
In adolescence, the main developmental task is:
Identity vs role confusion
Generativity vs stagnation
Intimacy vs isolation
Industry vs inferiority
Adolescents explore different roles and ideas to form a cohesive identity. Success leads to fidelity and a strong sense of self, whereas failure leads to confusion about future roles. This is Erikson's fifth stage. source
What is the developmental challenge of young adulthood (19-40 years)?
Integrity vs despair
Trust vs mistrust
Identity vs role confusion
Intimacy vs isolation
In young adulthood, forming deep, meaningful relationships is crucial. Successful resolution leads to strong relationships and love, while failure can result in loneliness. This is Erikson's sixth stage. source
Middle adulthood (40-65 years) is characterized by which developmental task?
Industry vs inferiority
Generativity vs stagnation
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
Initiative vs guilt
Adults focus on contributing to society and helping the next generation. Success leads to feelings of usefulness, while failure results in shallow involvement and stagnation. This is the seventh stage in Erikson's model. source
In late adulthood (65+ years), the significant developmental task is:
Intimacy vs isolation
Identity vs role confusion
Integrity vs despair
Generativity vs stagnation
In the final stage, individuals reflect on their life. Success leads to feelings of wisdom and acceptance, while failure results in regret and despair. This is Erikson's eighth and final stage. source
Which theoretical framework is the quiz based on, emphasizing tasks at each life stage?
Erikson's psychosocial stages
Piaget's cognitive stages
Kohlberg's moral stages
Freud's psychosexual stages
Erikson's theory outlines eight stages throughout the lifespan, each defined by a key psychosocial conflict. Other frameworks focus on cognitive, sexual, or moral development rather than social tasks. This quiz addresses those psychosocial conflicts. source
A noted criticism of Erikson's model is that:
It overemphasizes psychosexual development
It may be culturally biased
It ignores social influences
It only applies to children
Scholars argue that Erikson's stages were developed based on Western norms and may not reflect experiences in other cultures. While influential, the theory lacks universal applicability and may not account for cultural variations. source
According to Havighurst's developmental tasks, which task corresponds to middle childhood (6-12 years)?
Learning physical skills for games
Establishing intimate relationships
Developing a sense of identity
Accepting the inevitability of death
Havighurst identified that children aged 6-12 learn and master skills necessary for sports and games. This physical and social competence is essential for school-age development. Other tasks apply to later life stages. source
Who proposed the theory of emerging adulthood, describing a distinct phase between adolescence and full adulthood?
Erik Erikson
James Marcia
Robert Havighurst
Jeffrey Arnett
Jeffrey Arnett introduced 'emerging adulthood' to describe ages roughly 18 - 25 as a unique developmental period marked by exploration. This concept expands on traditional models by recognizing modern social and economic factors. It is not part of Erikson's original stages. source
0
{"name":"What is the primary developmental task during infancy (0-1 year) according to Erikson?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"What is the primary developmental task during infancy (0-1 year) according to Erikson?, Which developmental task best describes the toddler stage (1-3 years)?, The primary task in the preschool stage (3-6 years) is:","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Developmental Tasks Across Life Phases -

    Learn what is the developmental task at each stage of human growth and why these milestones matter in physical, emotional, and social development.

  2. Identify Key Developmental Milestones -

    Recognize the hallmark achievements and challenges associated with each period, from infancy through late adulthood, to deepen your grasp of developmental stages.

  3. Analyze Quiz Scenarios -

    Apply critical thinking to stages of development questions in the developmental stages quiz, honing your ability to select the correct tasks for varied life scenarios.

  4. Evaluate Your Knowledge of Erikson Developmental Tasks -

    Assess your understanding of Erickson developmental tasks by comparing your quiz responses against expert explanations and scoring feedback.

  5. Differentiate Between Similar Milestones -

    Distinguish closely related developmental tasks and milestones to sharpen your insight into subtle age-related changes and challenges.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy) -

    During the first year, infants learn whether they can trust caregivers to meet their basic needs; consistent feeding and comforting promote a secure attachment (Erikson, 1950). A helpful mnemonic is "Trust Your First Year" to recall that reliable care builds a foundation for later relationships. Studies from attachment theory (e.g., Ainsworth's Strange Situation) underscore how responsive caregiving fosters social and emotional resilience.

  2. Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Toddlerhood) -

    Between ages 1 - 3, children develop self-care skills like potty training and walking; supportive encouragement fosters autonomy, while overprotection leads to shame (Erikson, 1963). Recall "I Do It Myself!" as a phrase to capture toddlers' drive for independence. Research from developmental psychology (e.g., Bandura's self-efficacy theory) links early mastery experiences to later confidence.

  3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool) -

    From ages 3 - 6, imaginative play and goal-directed activities allow children to assert power and purpose; adults should guide initiatives without over-control to prevent guilt (Erikson, 1963). Try the memory cue "I Can Initiative!" to remember that planning and leadership are key tasks. Empirical work on play therapy shows that supportive play environments bolster creativity and self-esteem.

  4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age) -

    Between 6 - 12 years, children compare their abilities to peers in academic and social domains, striving for competence (Erikson, 1968). An easy formula: Effort + Feedback = Industry; consistent praise for effort in tasks like reading or math builds a sense of mastery. Piaget's concrete operational stage research highlights how logical tasks reinforce skill development and self-worth.

  5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence) -

    Adolescents explore personal beliefs, values, and goals to form a stable identity; supportive mentorship helps avoid confusion (Erikson, 1968). Use James Marcia's identity status model (Identity Achievement, Foreclosure, Moratorium, Diffusion) as a framework for understanding exploration. Studies in adolescent development (e.g., identity consolidation research) show that guided exploration predicts higher well-being.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Psychology & Mental Health Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker