Use Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development (especially the fourth through the eighth) to analyze Roger’s life.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In the fourth stage (school age) Roger faced the crisis of industry versus inferiority. The resolution of the crisis at this stage was mixed: While Roger was a superior student, he was not good at forming friendships, nor was he good at sports compared to the other children. In the fifth stage (adolescence) Roger faced the crisis of identity versus role confusion. At this stage Roger became better at sports and friendships and so went back to the fourth stage and resolved that crisis more successfully. Although there is no mention of career choice at this stage, his identity probably partially included being a good student and athlete. The crisis at this stage was successfully resolved. In the sixth stage (young adulthood) Roger faced the crisis of intimacy versus isolation. The case study indicates that Roger initially had some difficulty reaching intimacy but eventually did form a long-term relationship with his “soul mate,” Jackie. At this stage he also chose a career thereby going back to the fifth stage and more completely forming a sense of identity. Erikson thought that career choice was central to identity formation. In the seventh stage (middle adulthood) Roger faced the crisis of generativity versus self-absorption. This crisis was successfully resolved because the case study indicates that Roger had children which aids in generativity, and that he wrote about a “concern for the future,” a sign of generativity. In the eighth stage (old age) Roger faces the crisis of integrity versus despair. As Roger is weighing his life, he will most likely be satisfied with what he has accomplished and so will resolve this crisis successfully, resulting in a sense of integrity.