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Susan runs away from home
Susan runs away from home. This occurs because she feels she is being slowly suffocated by her Mother. Her dreams of dancing on Broadway have disappeared due to being injured in a violent attack. She is confused and feels alone. In Erikson’s fifth stage, identity versus identity confusion, the crisis is for adolescents to develop they person they will become and the place they hold in the world. Failure to achieve this results in identity crisis. -
Susan gets hitched
Susan, at age 24, marries James because they are in love and wish to spend the rest of their lives together. In Erikson’s sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation, Susan faced the challenge of risking her newly formed identity by replacing it with her new, married persona and committed relationship. Without success at this stage, Susan will wind up isolated and alone. -
Susan is educated
Susan (age 45) begins her college education. As she has grown, she sees the value in education and has a desire to do good for her family and for the world. Susan begins working on a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. In Erikson’s seventh stage, generativity versus stagnation, the challenge of middle age is being able to give back and provide or care for others. The inability to care for others at this stage results in stagnation and failure to progress. Susan continues to grow and progress.
