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Mary Brushes Her Teeth By Herself - Erikson's 3rd Stage: Initiative vs Guilt
Mary's mom encourages her to get ready by herself, so she gets up early and brushes her teeth alone for the 1st time because she feels the need to be independent. The crisis is between feeling the initiative to do things independently once encouraged. Or feeling guilt and shame when criticized after taking an independent action. -
Mary's Accomplishment of Good Grades - Erikson's 4th Stage : Industry vs Inferiority
Mary has been working hard at school when a grade report comes around and she has received all A's. She shows her grades to her mom who then congratulates her and rewards her with ice cream. In Erikson's 4th Stage the crisis is between feeling a sense of being competent or successful (industry) due to the support from peers/teachers/parents/etc. or feeling inferior when there is a lack of positive encouragement for their accomplishments. -
Mary Teaches Her Grandkids How to Garden - Erikson's 7th Stage : Generativity vs Stagnation
Mary now spends the weekends teaching her grandkids all about gardening as she feels a responsibility to pass her knowledge down to her grandkids. This crisis is between generativity, a feeling of responsibility and care to teach newer generations and stagnation, where you fail to act as a mentor leading to isolation.