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Erickson's first stage- Trust Vs. Mistrust
At 15 months old Lynelle's sister was born. Mexican family that adopted her withheld attention, affection and reliable care. Specific instances include almost drowning, and being left at a store and more.
Children develop a sense of trust in their caregivers at 0-18 months when provided with reliability, care and affection. When not provided it caused a lifelong mistrust of others, lack of intimate relationships, strained and distrust in family relationships and resentment towards her siblings. -
Identity Versus Role Confusion
In sixth grade, Lynelle (Age 12) is sent to live with her grandparents when mom experiences a psychotic episode and attempts suicide. She is not permitted to explore own identity as she is placed in a caregiving role for parent and family refocuses all attempts on individual expression towards familial duty to disturbed parent. Adolescents need to develop sense of self and personal identity to avoid role confusion and lack of self. Lynelle does not move through to self-discovery/sense of self. -
Erickson's Sixth Stage - Intimacy Versus Isolation
Lynelle (age 20) and Adam get married as she is pregnant. He leaves for military and refuses to sign divorce papers or try to make a military marriage work . She remains unable to reach him for 11 years and raises child without child support, as he is kicked out of Airforce for drug use and lives as transient homeless.
In Intimacy Versus Isolation, we explore relational fulfillment outside our families. In skipping this experience she experiences isolation, depression, and frustration.