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Who does Jessica trust? Trust vs. Mistrust
Jessica's (age 1) parents have provided her w/ food, safety, and comfort. Jessica is at a party & many family members want to hold her, she begins to cry. Jessica cries because it is her only ability to communicate her needs. In Erikson's first stage, trust versus mistrust, the crisis is between a sense of security or the sense of threat. Jessica was crying because she didn't know if she could trust these people. She stopped crying when she was w/ her mom because she is her primary caregiver. -
Jessica gets 100%: Industry vs. Inferiority
Jessica (age 10) completes all of her homework, although this did not come easy. She had asked her teacher many questions & got help from her parents. Both have encouraged and praised her for her efforts and have given her the confidence boost she needed to get 100% on this test. In Erikson's fourth stage, industry versus inferiority, the crisis is between a sense of competency (industry) or inadequacy (inferiority) - or doubting their ability to be successful due to the lack of encouragement. -
Jessica gets married: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Jessica (age 28) says 'yes!' to Brian when he proposes to her because they have been dating for eight years and together they have decided to fully commit to one another. In Erikson's sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation, the crisis is between commitment and being emotionally invested in a relationship or being and/or choosing to be alone and not investing time and/or emotion into a single relationship.
