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Erikson's First Stage: Trust vs. Mistrust
Ryan, a newborn, is crying because he needs to be fed. His mother, Dawn, feeds him and stops his crying. The crisis is that Ryan, the infant, is completely dependent on his mother for food and care. This gives him the understanding of interaction in the world through his parents. If the parents are dependable at showing affection, he will have trust. If the parents neglect him, then he will develop mistrust. -
Erikson's Second Stage: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt
Ryan, aged 2, is wanting to choose his own clothes to wear and dress himself for the day. The crisis is that the child learns autonomy by exploring the areas around them; if the parents allow the child to manipulate the environment, then the child will learn independence. The goal of creating a balance between independence and doubt in a toddler is to develop determination, or willpower. -
Erikson's Third Stage: Initiative vs. Guilt
Ryan, age 6, chose everyone's playing piece in the game they were playing. Ryan was becoming too bossy and didn't completely understand the game and began making mistakes. The crisis is that Ryan took initiative when he chose the role everyone was playing. The guilt started to come through when he began to make mistakes during the game. Learning how to get others to cooperate without being too bossy is trial and error.