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Industry vs Inferiority
Sally has dyslexia and struggles to learn how to read. This also makes other aspects of her learning difficult, like learning how to do math. Despite the encouragement of her teachers and parents, and the additional help she is receiving from both, she still begins to feel inferior as she watches her classmates reading independently.
Despite her attempts and support, she feels inferior because she cannot gain the skill. -
Generativity vs Stagnation
Sally becomes a teacher and pays close attention to children who seem to be struggling in her classroom, offering support and additional help where it's needed. She helps guide and teach the children in her classroom and hopes they can one day go on to do amazing things - something she reminds them daily.
Sally is giving back to her community and children similar to her through her work, leading her to the virtue of care in this stage. -
Ego Integrity vs Despair
Sally died with her husband and twins at her side. She had few regrets in life, knowing she worked hard to make an impact on the children she taught throughout the years of teaching.
Ego Integrity vs Despair is the stage at which we contemplate the life we lived. If we have any significant regrets, we experience despair. We develop integrity if we see ourselves leading a good life.