Final answer:
The infancy stage's basic conflict is trust versus mistrust, occurring from birth to 12 months. It is crucial for caregivers to be responsive to infants' needs to foster a sense of trust that shapes their view of the world. Unresponsive care can lead to mistrust and anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Infancy Stage and Basic Conflict
The infancy stage, from birth to 12 months, is characterized by the basic conflict of trust versus mistrust. According to Erikson's theory, this period is foundational to our development, where infants' experiences with caregivers greatly influence their perception of the world. Responsive and sensitive caregivers help infants to develop a sense of trust, viewing the world as a safe and predictable place. Conversely, unresponsive caregivers can cause feelings of anxiety, fear, and mistrust in infants, leading to a view of the world as unpredictable and unsafe.
Throughout the first year of life, infants depend on their caregivers to meet their physical and emotional needs. Successfully meeting these needs allows infants to establish trust, while failure to do so results in mistrust. This stage sets the groundwork for personal development and future interactions with the world.