According to Erikson's theory of development, what is the crisis faced during adolescence?

In Erikson's theory of development, the crisis faced during adolescence is identity vs. role confusion. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 12 and 18 and is critical for the development of a strong sense of personal identity. During this period, adolescents explore different roles, beliefs, and ideas as they seek to form their own identity apart from their parents and other societal expectations. Successfully navigating this stage leads to a coherent sense of self and personal direction, while failure to resolve this crisis can result in confusion about one's identity and difficulties in making decisions about the future.

The other stages listed pertain to different life phases: trust vs. mistrust occurs in infancy, initiative vs. guilt is experienced during early childhood, and generativity vs. stagnation is relevant in middle adulthood. Each stage represents a unique psychological struggle that contributes to overall development, but identity vs. role confusion is specifically associated with the challenges faced during adolescence.