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Maria's Humble Beggining
Maria is a two year old American girl. She was recently adopted from a rough home by a kind couple who could not have their own children. They've committed to raise her as their own in a loving home. In Erikson’s second stage of development, autonomy vs shame and guilt, the crisis is between becoming independent and confident through the support of encouraging parents; and becoming overly dependent upon others or feeling inadequate due to too much parental oversight and control. -
A Startling Revelation
Maria is about to begin jr. high. Her parents have recently made the decision to share that Maria is adopted. She isn’t quite sure how to process this news. In Erikson’s fifth stage of development, identity vs confusion, the crisis is to explore who you are in the areas of love, work, belief, and values through personal exploration, family values, and various opportunities. If you leave this stage with more questions than answers, you may have an identity crisis on your hands. -
Pressing Priorities
Maria has recently graduated high school. She could never escape the questions she had about her birth parents. How can she possibly know who she is without knowing them? While friends are going to college and dating, Maria has decided to find out who her birth parents are.
In Erikson’s sixth stage of development, intimacy vs isolation, there is a crisis between forming deep and loving romantic relationships with others and continuing to struggle to find your identity in isolation.
