According to Erikson, what occurs if a child doesn't resolve the necessary conflict in a stage of development?

In Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, each stage presents a specific conflict that individuals must resolve to develop a healthy personality and social skills. If a child does not successfully navigate the conflict associated with a particular stage, they may carry unresolved issues into later stages. This results in the child exhibiting tendencies related to that stage throughout their life, regardless of age. For example, if a child struggles with trust versus mistrust in the infancy stage, they may develop trust issues that affect their relationships later on. This concept emphasizes the continuous influence of earlier developmental challenges on a person’s later behavior and psychological state. Hence, the resolution of conflicts at each stage is crucial for healthy development.