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Intimacy vs. Isolation
Joe and Chrissy get married! They have decided they want to grow with each other and that they both make each other better people. This is Erikson's sixth stage, Intimacy vs. isolation. The crisis is risking your independence and time in exchange for happiness derived from the love of your partner vs. pushing your partner away and avoiding commitment, or isolating yourself completely. -
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Joe volunteers to help out with his son's boy scout troop. He becomes more and more involved with his his son's troop, not only passing down wisdom to his son, but also to the other boys in the troop. In Erikson's seventh stage , generativity vs. stagnation, the crisis is between staying productive while giving back to the next generation versus becoming complacent and only focusing on ones personal needs. -
Ego Integrity vs. Despair
Joe lays in his hospital bed, having only days left to live. He is surrounded by his wife Chrissy, his son, and his three grandchildren. He looks back on his life, where he worked for 35 years as a Sears appliance salesman to provide for his family, and is proud. In Erikson's eighth stage, Ego Integrity vs. Despair, the crisis is between looking back at ones life with no regrets versus looking back at life with regret and the desire to do it over again.