Erik Erikson believed that people develop through psychosocial stages, each stage affected by the resolution of the last stage. Each stage is defined by a task or crisis described as an interaction of opposite forces. How a person resolves each successive crisis builds personality and identity (Feist et al., 2021).
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
Pick one of eight Psychosocial Stages proposed by Erikson and answer the following questions:
What words are used to describe the crisis of this stage?
What would cause a favorable resolution of this stage?
What would interfere with a resolution?
Give an example of the crisis in this stage, either through your own experience, your observations, or from fiction.
the virtue of fidelity, or the ability to stay true to oneself despite external pressures. A resolution can be interfered with if the adolescent is prevented from exploring different paths, perhaps due to overbearing parental expectations or societal constraints that force them into a predetermined role. This can lead to either a diffusion of identity, where the individual remains confused about who they are, or a premature commitment to an identity without meaningful exploration (foreclosure). A classic example of this crisis can be seen in a high school student who tries on various personas—joining the drama club one year and the robotics team the next—and experimenting with different friend groups and clothing styles. If this adolescent's parents pressured them to only focus on becoming a doctor and disapproved of any other interests, it would interfere with their ability to freely explore and forge an authentic identity, potentially leading to role confusion.
Sample Answer
Erik Erikson's fifth psychosocial stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion, typically occurs during adolescence, a period where individuals grapple with a central crisis of finding out who they are. The crisis is described by the opposing forces of establishing a firm sense of identity—a coherent understanding of one's values, beliefs, and role in society—and experiencing role confusion, a state of uncertainty and a lack of a unified self. A favorable resolution of this stage would occur when an adolescent is given the freedom to explore various roles, beliefs, and relationships without fear of judgment. Through this process of exploration, they are able to synthesize their experiences into a strong, stable, and unique sense of self, which is cemented byErik Erikson's fifth psychosocial stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion, typically occurs during adolescence, a period where individuals grapple with a central crisis of finding out who they are.@ The crisis is described by the opposing forces of establishing a firm sense of identity—a coherent understanding of one's values, beliefs, and role in society—and experiencing role confusion, a state of uncertainty and a lack of a unified self. A favorable resolution of this stage would occur when an adolescent is given the freedom to explore various roles, beliefs, and relationships without fear of judgment. Through this process of exploration, they are able to synthesize their experiences into a strong, stable, and unique sense of self, which is cemented by