According to Erikson, the ultimate purpose of developing into an
adult was to develop strengths that enabled one to care properly
for the next generation (Erikson, The Life Cycle Completed, 67).
Successful childhood development culminated in adolescence,
where the need for guidance was transferred from parental
figures to mentors and leaders in order to be identified with
society (Erikson, Life Cycle, 72). Infancy was particularly
important, because it was here that the basis for this identity
was formed (Erikson, Childhood and Society, 249). Infantile
trust had a strong relation to adolescent fidelity, which was in
turn strongly connected to an adult's mature faith (Erikson,
Life Cycle, 73). But Erikson was far from the first to consider
childhood development as a series of struggles to be resolved.
St. Augustine (354-430), presbyter of the North African city of
Hippo for thirty-four years (Stortz 78), saw childhood
development in a similar light. He "realized and articulated the
necessity of examining the h