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Debbie failed to bond with her parents: Trust vs. Mistrust
When Debbie was born, her mother and father already had two other children under the age of six running around the house. Both of her parents spent most of their time working day and night jobs and often times neglected their three children. In Erikson's first stage, trust vs. mistrust, the crisis is between developing a basic belief that the world is a safe place (trust), or develop fear about life and doubting what the world has to offer (mistrust). -
Debbie Made the Decision to Marry David: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Debbie (19) and David decided to get married because they made each other happy and loved one another through every obstacle they encountered. They wanted their relationship to evolve and mature through a committed marriage. In Erikson's sixth stage, intimacy vs. isolation, the problem is between taking a risk to develop a newly formed relationship (Intimacy) or living in solitude from an unwillingness to take the chance of committing to another person (isolation). -
Debbie acknowledges her Integrity: Ego Integrity vs. Despair
Debbie has been married to David for 66 years now and has one son and two granddaughters. When she took a look at her past and all the hard work she put into her job as a nurse, mother, and grandmother she realized she was very content with her life. In Erikson's eight stage, ego integrity vs. despair, the crisis is between contentment with how ones life plays out (ego integrity) and deep regret and anger toward the outcomes of life (despair).
