Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development describes eight distinct stages of development that span from infancy to old age.
Each stage is defined by a central psychosocial crisis that must be resolved.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us identify the age range and order for each of the given stages:
1. (E) Initiative vs. Guilt (Stage 3):
This occurs during early childhood (approximately ages 3 to 5 years).
Children begin to assert power and control over their world through play and social interaction.
2. (A) Industry vs. Inferiority (Stage 4):
This occurs during middle childhood (approximately ages 5 to 12 years).
Children learn to cope with new academic and social demands.
3. (C) Identity vs. Identity confusion (Stage 5):
This occurs during adolescence (approximately ages 12 to 18 years).
Teens work to develop a personal identity and sense of self.
4. (D) Intimacy vs. Isolation (Stage 6):
This occurs during young adulthood (approximately ages 18 to 40 years).
Young adults focus on forming intimate, loving relationships with others.
5. (B) Integrity vs. Despair (Stage 8):
This occurs during late adulthood (age 65 to death).
Older adults look back on life with a sense of fulfillment or regret.
Ascending Order:
Arranging these stages from earliest to latest in life gives:
(E) Initiative vs. Guilt $\rightarrow$ (A) Industry vs. Inferiority $\rightarrow$ (C) Identity vs. Identity confusion $\rightarrow$ (D) Intimacy vs. Isolation $\rightarrow$ (B) Integrity vs. Despair.
This corresponds to the sequence: (E), (A), (C), (D), (B).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct ascending sequence of the stages is (E), (A), (C), (D), (B).
This matches Option (C).