What psychosocial stage is Cooper working to resolve when he feels bad about his mom watching him play?

The correct answer is that Cooper is working to resolve the issue of initiative versus guilt. This stage, according to Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory, occurs during early childhood, roughly from ages 3 to 6. During this stage, children are beginning to assert their power and control through directing play and other social interactions. If they initiate these activities and feel supported, they develop a sense of initiative; however, if they are discouraged or criticized, they may develop a sense of guilt over their needs and desires.

In the scenario presented, Cooper feels bad about his mom watching him play, which suggests he may be experiencing guilt related to his desire for independence in play. He might be concerned about performing for her rather than just enjoying the activity, indicating a conflict between wanting to take initiative and feeling guilty or anxious about it.

In this context, the other stages—trust versus mistrust, industry versus inferiority, and identity versus role confusion—are not applicable to Cooper's feelings in this situation. Trust versus mistrust pertains to the very early stages of life and focuses on the reliability of caregivers. Industry versus inferiority relates to developing competence and skills, often during school years, while identity versus role confusion pertains to adolescents exploring different roles to form