Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, which I learned in medical school, have remained with me as a useful framework that fits well with Buddhist practice. According to Erikson, we develop in stages in life, from childhood through old age, moving through crises of opposing values, namely trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry or achievement versus inferiority, identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair.
