<P> However, mastery of a stage is not required to advance to the next stage . The outcome of one stage is not permanent and can be modified by later experiences . Erikson's stage theory characterizes an individual advancing through the eight life stages as a function of negotiating his or her biological forces and sociocultural forces . Each stage is characterized by a psychosocial crisis of these two conflicting forces (as shown in the table below). If an individual does indeed successfully reconcile these forces (favoring the first mentioned attribute in the crisis), he or she emerges from the stage with the corresponding virtue . For example, if an infant enters into the toddler stage (autonomy vs. shame and doubt) with more trust than mistrust, he or she carries the virtue of hope into the remaining life stages . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Approximate Age </Td> <Td> Virtues </Td> <Td> Psychosocial crisis </Td> <Td> Significant relationship </Td> <Td> Existential question </Td> <Td> Examples </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Infancy <P> 0 - 18 months </P> </Td> <Td> Hope </Td> <Td> Basic trust vs. mistrust </Td> <Td> Mother </Td> <Td> Can I trust the world? </Td> <Td> Feeding, abandonment </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Early childhood <P> 2--4 years </P> </Td> <Td> Will </Td> <Td> Autonomy vs. shame and doubt </Td> <Td> Parents </Td> <Td> Is it okay to be me? </Td> <Td> Toilet training, clothing themselves </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Preschool age <P> 4--5 years </P> </Td> <Td> Purpose </Td> <Td> Initiative vs. guilt </Td> <Td> Family </Td> <Td> Is it okay for me to do, move, and act? </Td> <Td> Exploring, using tools or making art </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> School age <P> 5--12 years </P> </Td> <Td> Competence </Td> <Td> Industry vs. inferiority </Td> <Td> Neighbors, school </Td> <Td> Can I make it in the world of people and things? </Td> <Td> School, sports </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Adolescence <P> 13--19 years </P> </Td> <Td> Fidelity </Td> <Td> Identity vs. role confusion </Td> <Td> Peers, role model </Td> <Td> Who am I? Who can I be? </Td> <Td> Social relationships </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Early adulthood <P> 20--39 years </P> </Td> <Td> Love </Td> <Td> Intimacy vs. isolation </Td> <Td> Friends, partners </Td> <Td> Can I love? </Td> <Td> Romantic relationships </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Adulthood <P> 40--64 years </P> </Td> <Td> Care </Td> <Td> Generativity vs. stagnation </Td> <Td> Household, workmates </Td> <Td> Can I make my life count? </Td> <Td> Work, parenthood </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maturity <P> 65 - death </P> </Td> <Td> Wisdom </Td> <Td> Ego integrity vs. despair </Td> <Td> Mankind, my kind </Td> <Td> Is it okay to have been me? </Td> <Td> Reflection on life </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> Approximate Age </Td> <Td> Virtues </Td> <Td> Psychosocial crisis </Td> <Td> Significant relationship </Td> <Td> Existential question </Td> <Td> Examples </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Infancy <P> 0 - 18 months </P> </Td> <Td> Hope </Td> <Td> Basic trust vs. mistrust </Td> <Td> Mother </Td> <Td> Can I trust the world? </Td> <Td> Feeding, abandonment </Td> </Tr>

Erikson's second stage of personality development is referred to as