Which crisis do toddlers experience in Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt?

• A. Craving attachment and closeness
• B. Forming identity
• C. Learning to be independent and do things for themselves
• D. Developing a sense of industry

Answer: (C)

In this stage, the challenge is building a sense of independence. Toddlers begin wanting to do things for themselves—feeding, dressing, choosing activities—and they learn to control impulses and make simple decisions. When caregivers support that drive by offering guidance rather than taking over, the child gains autonomy and confidence in their own abilities. If responses are overly critical, punishing mistakes, or shaming attempts at independence, the child may develop shame and doubt about what they can do, leading to hesitation to try new tasks.

So the best fit is learning to be independent and do things for themselves. For context, craving attachment and closeness aligns with trust vs. mistrust in infancy; forming identity is a later stage in adolescence; developing a sense of industry corresponds to the school-age years and the competence vs. inferiority stage.