Human Development: Basic Trust vs. Basic Mistrust (Birth to 18 Months)

Phase 1: Basic trust and basic distrust in the first stage of Ericsson's theory (born in 18 months), the first 18 months of life centered on the development of confidence (Zaslow & Kirst- Ashman, 2007). In other words, a baby must learn to trust and trust others for food and care. According to Erikson (1985), the most important event at this stage is feeding. If the presence and feeding of her caregiver are stable and predictable, the baby builds trust, otherwise it creates distrust.

Unlike Piaget, Ericsson also added a basic virtue to children at each stage. The first stage between 18 months of age is trust and distrust. At this stage, the baby is confused about where the world is a safe place and wants to know if his needs are met. As a result, infants want a consistent care from their primary carers and hope to satisfy their needs. Ericsson explained that people receiving continuous care at this stage will have confidence.

Hope, basic trust, basic distrust - this stage covers 0 to 18 months in infancy. This is the most basic stage in life. Whether the baby gains basic trust or whether it shows basic distrust is not just a matter of training. It is multifaceted and has strong social elements. It depends on the quality of the relationship of the mother. The mother made an internal view on the reliability and personal significance of the child and reflected it. An important part of this phase is to provide stable and continuous care to your baby. This can help children build trust and can transform into relationships outside of their parents. In addition, they build confidence in others to support them. If you succeed in this respect, your baby will have the confidence of "forming the foundation of a child's identity". If such trust is not brought up, it will create fear and the world will feel inconsistent and unpredictable.