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Jane's Youth: Industry versus Inferiority
Jane (age 11) enters middle school, for the first time she truly began to feel a consistent sense of motivation to learn and adapt to new foreign subjects and challenges in her academics. In Erikson's fourth stage of industry versus inferiority, the crisis is between having the support to develop and experience this drive to learn new skills successfully (industry), a child who lacks this support will often experience conflicts with learning new skills (inferiority). -
Jane's Self Realization: Identity versus Identity Confusion
Jane, now age 17, realizes the abilities she is good and not so good at, she knows she is well above average in mathematics and sciences, and feels passionate about soccer. In Erikson's fifth stage of identity versus identity confusion, the crisis is between this self realization of your own capabilities and passions (identity) and the absence of them (identity confusion). -
Jane's Purpose: Generativity versus Stagnation
Jane, now 45 years old, gives birth to a son. Jane is now mostly concerned with the lives beyond her own, including her sons life and his future peers as he grows up. Her sole concerns are that she is properly nurturing her son, and that other children his age are receiving the same type of care. In Erikson's seventh stage of generativity versus stagnation, the crisis is between nurturing others beyond yourself at midlife (generativity) or focusing on yourself (stagnation).
