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Initiation vs Guilt
March 14th, 1883
Albert Einstein did not learn to speak until he was four years old.
In Erikson's Initiation vs Guilt stage the child is learning to interact with others and make plans. Not being able to speak until this stage can be intimidating and cause a feeling of guilt. -
Identity and Role Confusion
June 7th, 1900
Albert was not preforming well in college and his father considered him a failure when he died.
Erikson's stage Identity vs Role Confusion is a time in adolescences where questions about the self are developed. What kind of person am I? What do I want my life to be? Einstein had a very low sense of self because of his failure at school and the guilt from his father's disappointment was carried with him into his adolescence and young adulthood. -
Integrity vs Despair
Albert Einstein (age 76) was hospitalized for a ruptured aneurysm and when asked if he had faith in an afterlife he said he only wanted one life he had done his part and it was his time to go.
In Erikson's stage Integrity or Dispair,
The struggle that is common is the feeling of regret. When you look back on all you have accomplished and feel regret from not doing things this can cause despair. Albert did accomplish a lot in his life time so he did not have these feelings.
