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It's My Birthday and I'll Pie If I Want To
"Mommy! It's my birthday next week. Can we go to the movies with Torre and have a sleepover with pizza and apple pie?" Dave asked. "Sure! That sounds like lots of fun," Mom said. Erikson's third stage, initiative versus guilt, deals with a time when children make plans and build courses of action. A child who is positively received for their planning or actions will feel initiative, while those who are often restricted or punished for these actions instead feel guilt. -
Pride in Success
Dave got home from school with his grades. He shared his results with his mother and she gave him $80 for his four A's, praising his success. Erikson's fourth stage, industry over inferiority, shows children who are encouraged and rewarded for success will feel confident and competent at their actions. Those who are held back or don't feel their actions are adequate may develop feelings of inferiority and perceive themselves as substandard. -
Learning About Me
Dave had epilepsy, was into drugs, and crime. Feeling marginalization, he moved to Alaska for work and, away from everyone telling him who he was and what his capacities were, he worked successfully, made friends, and felt a part of his society. Erikson's fifth stage, identity or identity confusion, shows that adolescents who explore who they are and their place in society develop identity while those who don't gain an understanding of their role develop identity confusion.
