During which developmental stage does a sense of guilt primarily arise from feeling irresponsible?

The stage where a sense of guilt primarily arises from feelings of irresponsibility is indeed the "Initiative vs. Guilt" stage. This stage occurs during early childhood, approximately ages 3 to 6, when children begin to assert control over their environment through directing play and other social interactions. During this developmental phase, children are encouraged to initiate activities and take risks in play and learning.

When they are successful, they develop a sense of initiative. However, if their attempts to assert themselves are met with disapproval or they feel that their actions do not meet expectations, they begin to experience guilt. This feeling stems from the belief that they have overstepped their boundaries or behaved irresponsibly. Thus, the development of guilt in this context is directly linked to their emerging self-concept and the realization of their responsibilities.

The other stages—Intimacy vs. Isolation, Identity Formation vs. Identity Confusion, and Industry vs. Inferiority—each focus on different key conflicts and developmental tasks. Intimacy vs. Isolation deals more with forming deep relationships, Identity Formation vs. Identity Confusion centers on developing a personal identity during adolescence, and Industry vs. Inferiority is primarily about mastering skills and feeling competent in comparison to peers. While