In Erikson's stages, what psychosocial conflict occurs during adolescence?

During adolescence, the psychosocial conflict that individuals face is identity vs. role confusion. This stage is characterized by the exploration of personal identity and the development of a sense of self. Adolescents are focused on discovering who they are, which often involves examining their values, beliefs, and goals, as well as integrating these elements into their self-concept.

They begin to question their place in society and often experiment with different roles, behaviors, and ideologies. Successfully navigating this stage leads to a strong sense of identity, allowing individuals to develop confidence and direction for their future. Conversely, failure to establish a clear identity can result in confusion about one's role in life, leading to feelings of uncertainty and instability.

The other psychosocial conflicts represented in the question occur at different stages of human development—such as trust vs. mistrust in infancy, industry vs. inferiority in middle childhood, and intimacy vs. isolation in young adulthood—which are not applicable to the adolescent stage. Understanding this framework helps highlight the critical importance of identity formation during this pivotal period.