Which of the following actions best illustrates Erik Erikson's developmental task for the infant stage, known as 'trust versus mistrust'?

• A. An infant who feels secure when their caregiver consistently responds to their cries
• B. A preschooler who learns to cooperate with peers during play
• C. A toddler who insists on dressing themselves without help
• D. A school-age child who works hard to achieve good grades

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the developmental stage in question: the infant stage, which Erik Erikson describes as the 'trust versus mistrust' stage.
2. Understand the core conflict of this stage: infants learn to either trust or mistrust their caregivers and environment based on the consistency and reliability of care they receive.
3. Recognize that successful resolution of this stage results in the infant feeling secure and trusting that their needs will be met.
4. Analyze each option to see which one reflects the infant developing trust through consistent caregiver response.
5. Conclude that the action illustrating this stage is the infant feeling secure when their caregiver consistently responds to their cries, as it directly relates to building trust.