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Baby Matteo's comfort with new people: Trust vs. Mistrust
Matteo (11 months) is an easy-going baby and adapts well to new faces at his birthday party. He's calm when other people hold him and enjoys the attention when being played with. In Erikson's first stage, trust versus mistrust, the crisis is the child learns to mistrust others and doubts that life will be rewarding if not well-loved at infancy. Matteo's parents loved, cared, and comforted him in his first stage so it's easier to enjoy new company. -
Matteo encounters peer pressure: Identity versus Identity Confusion
Matteo (age 13) is at a sleepover. The boys want to drink some alcohol from their dad's liquor cabinet. He feels uncomfortable and makes up an excuse to go home. In Erikson's fifth stage, identity versus identity confusion, the crisis is developing a personal identity, what their capacities are, and who they want to associate themselves with. Identity confusion results for those who can't achieve this. Matteo had his mom call him for a fake emergency and has now had different friends. -
Matteo volunteers: Generativity versus Stagnation
Matteo (age 41) is married and has three children. He and his wife have raised them and volunteer for the majority of their extracurricular activities. Matteo makes sure to pass on the love and care he received as a child, to his on children. In Erikson's seventh stage, generativity versus stagnation, the crisis is between contributing to the well-being of others or feeling disconnected/uninvolved in their community while focusing only on themselves; ending up in a state of stagnation.
