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The start of Andrew's life. Trust versus Mistrust
At the time Andrew was born his parents separated. He stayed with his mother, which attended to his everyday basic needs. Andrew's father rarely went to visit him but when he did. Andrew would cry out for his mother when his father would try hold him. Andrew felt secured with his mother. Such as in Erikson's first stage, trust versus mistrust, the dilemma is between the sense of security and meeting one's needs versus the sense of fear and not meeting one's needs. -
Road to self independence. Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt
By the age of three, Andrew's mother always encouraged him to feed himself despite the mess he would make. Although the mess would driver her crazy, she would never punish him for it. Such as in Erikson's second stage, autonomy versus shame and doubt, the dilemma here is between parents encouraging toddlers to become physically independent versus over protecting them and doing everything for them. -
Romantic Relationship : Intimacy versus Isolation
During Andrew's military career, he meet Rose. They developed a close attachment relationship and within a couple of years they married. Such as in Erikson's sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation, the dilemma is between close attachment relationship and lifelong bond versus not building a close attachment relationship with others and develop a long term feeling of loneliness.
