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Industry vs Inferiority
Jesse (age 12) is naturally talented at playing the cello. His talents helped him receive a spot in the school’s orchestra as First Chair Cellist. It felt amazing to have a talent that no one in his family shared. In Erikson's Fourth stage of Industry vs Inferiority a child expands their social world and begins to see what they are "good at." This is also the time for them to learn industry giving them a love for learning. Children without this may feel inferior. -
Crisis of Identity
Jesse (age 18) is the only son of his Drill Sergeant father's nine kids. He is expected to carry the tradition of serving for his country. The fifth stage is adolescence. During this stage it is the crisis of identity versus identity confusion. Adolescents must develop an awareness of who they are, what their capacities are, and what their place is within their culture. For those who are unable to achieve this, identity confusion results. -
Intimacy versus Isolation
Jesse (age 28) and Nesh married because they are the best of friends and can trust each other completely. The sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation, takes place in early adulthood. In this stage, the challenge for young adults is to risk their newly formed identity by entering into a committed intimate relationship, usually marriage. Those who are unable to make themselves vulnerable end up without an intimate relationship.