The concept of basic hope was introduced by Erikson (1993) in his psychosocial theory of development and was described as a first virtue of ego achieved in the early infancy (0-18 month). The theory describes the impact of external factors, parents or caregivers and society on personality development, which is processing gradually through the eight stages throughout our life-time: (1) trust vs. mistrust, (2) autonomy vs. shame/doubt, (3) initiative vs. guilt, (4) industry vs. inferiority, (5) identity vs. role confusion, (6) intimacy vs. isolation, (7) generativity vs. stagnation, and (8) integrity vs. despair (Erikson, 1993, 1994). Each stage considers a conflict that need to be concluded in order for an individual to proceed to the next
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If properly handled and ensured that the caregivers are nearby, willing and ready to respond to his needs, the child will develop optimism, trust and confidence. In the most desirable circumstances basic trust is nurtured by caring mothers or fathers corroborating newborns' security by providing them with food, attention and affection, when needed. It is not strictly the amount of food or demonstrations of love what contributes to the enhanced basic trust, but the quality of a relationship between the baby and its mother – the child's rhythm of rest and activity need to be respected and appropriate stimulation provided. By securing the daily routines and reacting to the child's needs accordingly, the growth of subjective sense of stability and world's favourableness is supported. We can observe that “the first demonstration of social trust in the baby is the ease of his feeding, the depth of his sleep, and relaxation of his bowels” (Erikson, 1993, pp. 222). Alternatively, when no sufficient care is provided to the infant, its perception of the world switches toward general mistrust, lack of confidence, experience of rage and
If properly handled and ensured that the caregivers are nearby, willing and ready to respond to his needs, the child will develop optimism, trust and confidence. In the most desirable circumstances basic trust is nurtured by caring mothers or fathers corroborating newborns' security by providing them with food, attention and affection, when needed. It is not strictly the amount of food or demonstrations of love what contributes to the enhanced basic trust, but the quality of a relationship between the baby and its mother – the child's rhythm of rest and activity need to be respected and appropriate stimulation provided. By securing the daily routines and reacting to the child's needs accordingly, the growth of subjective sense of stability and world's favourableness is supported. We can observe that “the first demonstration of social trust in the baby is the ease of his feeding, the depth of his sleep, and relaxation of his bowels” (Erikson, 1993, pp. 222). Alternatively, when no sufficient care is provided to the infant, its perception of the world switches toward general mistrust, lack of confidence, experience of rage and