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Trust vs. Mistrust
Josue is an infant that is surrounded by a loving family. The mother offers him unconditional love and quickly responds to Josue's needs. When both parents have to work, he is taken care of by his grandmother. Josue's grandmother take care of Josue like if he were her own child. The loving environment Josue is in creates a sense of trust. In Erickson's first stage trust vs mistrust the objective is to build a strong bond between the caregiver and infant. -
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Josue is now two years old and is becoming more active. In this moment of time Josue shows off his independence by choosing what toy he wants to play with. Also, Josue tells his mother when he would like to brush his teeth. However, he performs this task on his own. His mother observes Josue and allows him to brush his teeth independently, but of course with some degree of guidance. In Erickson's Second stage, it is of great importance for children to explore their skills without being limited. -
Industry vs. Inferiorty
Now, at 6 years old, Josue attends elementary school. He does his homework with the help of his mother and enjoys it. He frequently asks questions and as a result is one of the top students in his class. This event would be considered Erickson's fourth stage where the child is eager to learn. The major point of this stage is for a child to feel confident in themself and not inferiorly. -
Identity vs Identity Confusion
Josue has now entered the fifth stage of Erickson's theory. Josue has been an exceptional student and a good son. He is now thinking of the future, but as he thinks ahead he begins to worry. Although he does well in school, he still is indecesive of what he wants to be when he grows up. His parents, at this point, constantly push him in thinking about his future career. The pressure of Josue's parents may lead to identity confusion and that is a challenge that occurs in Erickson's Fifth stage.
