In this concise and brilliant essay, Erikson extends his earlier model of psychosocial and psychosexual stages into adulthood and old age. For each psychosocial crisis in his familiar formulation he adds a word which symbolizes the "basic strength" that evolves from the resolution of that crisis and the passage to the subsequent stage. For adulthood, the crisis is between generativity and stagnation and the strength involved is caring. This allows for entrance into old age, in which integrity and despair yield wisdom. Erikson emphasizes the dystonic or negative aspect of each crisis as prerequisite to the evolution of the phase-appropriate strength. Finally, he links aspects of the earlier stages, especially the first stage and the need for trust in the "maternal other," with the development of faith and the acceptance of the role of the elderly in human culture.