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Three-Event Timeline (Theo)
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Theo's Attachment
When Theo cries out that he is hungry, soiled, or wants to be held, his caregivers rarely respond, simply closing the door to mitigate the noise instead. In the 1st stage of Trust vs Mistrust, the crisis is that you either learn that the world a nice and comfortable place where you can depend on/trust others, or that the world is a scary and dangerous place, where everything/everyone is suspicious. Which way you go will depend on how consistently and attentively your caregivers met your needs. -
Theo Comes into Control
Theo has new caretakers who allow him to pick out his own clothes, food, and toys. He is not punished when he makes mistakes and is encouraged and praised for making his own decisions. In the 2nd stage of Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt, the crisis is between developing confidence and a sense of control while coming to realize your power and independence with the help of your caregiver(s); or developing an unhealthy dependence on others, feelings of inadequacy, and low self-esteem. -
Theo's Contribution
Theo’s relationships have been fraught with severe problems throughout his life which has led him to fail to establish a family, support system, or steady employment/career. During Erikson's 5th stage of Generativity vs. Stagnation, we face a crisis between contributing to our loved one's lives, our community, or the world at large in substantial and meaningful ways, or face feelings of being directionless, purposeless, and severely disconnected from society and others.
