What does the Trust vs. Mistrust stage primarily address?

The Trust vs. Mistrust stage, as defined by Erik Erikson in his theory of psychosocial development, focuses on how infants establish trust based on their experiences with caregivers. This stage occurs from birth to approximately 18 months, during which infants learn to feel secure and develop a sense of safety in their environment. When caregivers provide consistent, reliable, and nurturing care, infants begin to trust that their needs will be met. This foundational trust becomes crucial for their emotional health and subsequent social relationships.

Consistent care helps infants feel safe and understood, leading them to develop a positive view of the world and a sense of security. Conversely, inconsistent or neglectful care can foster feelings of mistrust, leading to anxiety and fear regarding the reliability of others. Thus, the essence of this stage is about the infant's experience of trust in their primary caregivers, which plays a significant role in their overall development.