-
Paul's parents often left him alone and to take drugs and party instead. In Erikson's first stage, trust versus mistrust, the challenge between an infant being loved and cared for and therefore allows them to feel safe and secure (trust) or an infant being neglected and now fears people around him (mistrust).
-
Paul's parents are too preoccupied with their own lives that they dont want to take the time to help him learn to ride his bike.
In Erikson's initiative versus guilt, the challenge between children given opportunities to test their own abilities and thus becoming more confident and children being discouraged into trying new things so much so that they feel ashamed. -
Paul is afraid to open up to a girl in fear that if he lets his guard down, that he might get hurt. Paul never reveals his true feelings in relationships and pushes his partners away. In Eriksons sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation, the challenge between those who are able to have intimate relationships are able to have close, lasting relationships, and those who struggle to connect with people might never be able to have a meaning relationship at all
