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Naja's Significant Academic History: Industry vs Inferiority
Naja (age 9) competed for her class in a Poetry Out Loud school competition because she excelled academically which allowed her to walk with her chin up and shoulders high. Erikson’s fourth stage, Middle Childhood, is where children begin to build their self-esteem based on their competence and the social approval of their environment. The crisis of this stage is believing in one's skills and capabilities or finding difficulty in doing so. -
Naja's Graduation: Identity vs Role Confusion
Naja (age 17) graduated from high school. The crucial time of adolescence was slowly coming to an end and she began feeling troubled with her plans and goals for the future. Erikson’s fifth stage, Adolescence, is where teenagers chase independence and begin to discover who they are. The crisis of this stage is finding your "role" and identity in this society -- being someone "great" and confident or someone who is "less" and unbelieving of oneself. -
Naja's First Steps to Commitment: Intimacy vs Isolation
Naja (age 20) is now in college and was living alone in a different country, exploring the world and herself. She met someone that taught her multiple lessons about herself, relationships, and life. Erikson’s sixth stage, Young Adulthood, is where young adults learn to crave and be involved in intimate relationships. The crisis in this stage is choosing and finding a balance between choosing to be alone and maintaining close relationships.