Identity vs Role Confusion corresponds to which life period and basic virtue?

• A. Infancy; Hope
• B. Adolescence; Fidelity
• C. Young adulthood; Love
• D. Middle adulthood; Competence

Answer: (B)

Identity vs Role Confusion is tested during adolescence, a time when individuals explore who they are, what they believe, and what roles they will take in relationships, work, and society. The virtue developed here is fidelity, meaning a stable sense of self and the ability to commit to values and relationships with loyalty and sincerity. When this exploration succeeds, a teen gains a coherent identity and an enduring sense of commitment; when it doesn’t, role confusion can lead to uncertainty about personal goals and beliefs.

Infancy with hope corresponds to trust, the foundation of basic trust in caregivers. Young adulthood with love aligns with the development of intimate relationships, and middle adulthood centers on generativity with the virtue of care, not competence.