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Initiative vs Guilt
Erik wants a cookie, and knows where they are kept in the kitchen. He engineers a means to climb onto the counter and procure himself a cookie without permission or supervision from an adult. Erik is four years old and in the third stage of Erikson's Pyschosocial Development: Initiative vs Guilt, where Erik will begin to take charge of his environment. If Erik is scolded too much for his adventures in cookie-theivery, he may too affected by the guilt to take charge of his environment again. -
Identity vs. Role Confusion
As he makes his way through puberty, Erik comes to understand that he is attracted to men. Understanding and owning one's sexual identity is an important part of understanding our place in the world at large. Living in denial of his orientation can cause role confusion, as Erik would have an incomplete understanding of his identity and motivations, leading to cognitive dissonance in the way he relates to the world around him. -
Generativity vs. Stagnation
After a successful career that has made him incredibly wealthy, Erik is now 51 and has chosen to set up a multi-million dollar scholarship program for underprivileged youth at his alma matter, Stanford University. By choosing generativity over stagnation, Erik is focusing his resources on creating a legacy of positive change for the benefit of others. He has made the world a better place by creating an endowment for future generations that he will see no material benefit from.