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Mark gets broken up with
Mark (23 y/o) was in a long-term relationship that has come to an end. Mark is feeling integrity versus despair, the eighth Erikson stage. His crisis is between wallowing in his despair over his painful break-up or using his integrity to get his life back on track. -
Mark gets a dog
Mark decides to get a dog to take his mind off his breakup. He is in the sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation. His crisis is that he longs for intimacy but he currently feels isolated. -
Mark struggles to be a good dog owner
Mark thought a dog would cure his feeling of isolation, but he quickly found out that having a pet is a lot of work. Mark is showing signs of the third stage, initiative versus guilt. His crisis is that he must have the initiative to take care of his new dog even though he is still sad and doesn't want to get out of bed. However, Mark knows that he must take care of his dog or else he'll feel guilty about not giving it a good life. Mark becomes the best dog owner and his broken heart is mended.