During which psychosocial stage do children seek peer approval and may feel inferior if not encouraged?

• A. Trust vs mistrust
• B. Industry vs inferiority
• C. Autonomy vs shame and doubt
• D. Initiative vs guilt

Answer: (B)

In Erikson’s theory, the stage where children are trying to master new skills and show competence is the one where peer input and encouragement matter most. This school-age period is when kids compare themselves to classmates and look for approval from friends, teachers, and other adults. When they receive encouragement and see that their efforts lead to real progress, they develop a sense of industry—a belief that they can achieve tasks and contribute. If they’re not encouraged or experience repeated failure without support, they may feel inferior, doubting their abilities and becoming reluctant to take on new challenges.

This isn’t about infancy’s trust in caregivers, nor the earlier focus on autonomy vs shame during toddler years, or the earlier sense of initiative vs guilt in preschoolers. Those stages address different developmental questions. The emphasis on seeking peer approval and the risk of feeling inferior aligns with the industry vs inferiority stage, which centers on competence and social comparison during the elementary years.