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During infancy, depending on whether the child physical and emotional needs are met the infant may leave the stage with either trust or mistrust. For example, if the child cries or is hungry, and the parent attends to every cry and every feeding, they child learns that their caregiver will attend to them and learn that they can gain “trust someone now, we can also trust others in the future” (Sprouts, 2017).

I interviewed my best friend Sharon, she is the same age as me, 20, and I asked her about how she was at this stage, and she says she does not personally remember, however with her parent’s account, with her being the youngest, she would get a lot of attention and her needs she would always be met. For example when she would cry, she would always be with her parents, especially with her dad.

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During toddler years, depending on whether the caregivers allowed the toddler to explore themselves. Such as allowing toddlers to dress themselves and providing more options for them to choose. Depending on if the caretakers allowed for this and “if we are allowed to discover ourselves, then we develop self-confidence” (Sprouts 2017). Sharon said during this time that she believed she left with autonomy because her parents would often lead her to make her own decisions in small ways. For example if she wanted to play with her siblings, what she wanted to eat, or what kind of toys she wanted to play with.

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During preschool age, When children begin to explore ourselves, depending if they are able to explore their interest and different activities, it allows them to take more initiative. However, if the caretakers and the people around this child discouraged them to do so they can develop guilt. “If we are held back or told that what we do is silly, we can develop guilt. We are now learning from the entire family” (Sprouts 2017).

Sharon mentioned that during this time while her parents didn’t necessarily discourage her from branching out and engaging in different interest, they didn’t encourage her either. They didn’t provide her or push her. They were just there. Although she does know that during this time instead of developing her own interest, she mainly followed what her two older sisters did and whatever their interest were she most likely had the same ones at that age.

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During the school ages, Between elementary and middle school children begin to branch out more and develop their own unique interest, and if they are encouraged, and they receive recognition and praise, they become more motivated and strive further for success. However, if they do not receive recognition or put down for their interest, they lose that motivation because they do not have that support system of someone praising or recognizing their accomplishments. “If we receive recognition from our teachers or peers, we become industrious, or hard-working. If we get too much negative feedback, we start to feel inferior and lose motivation (Sprouts 2017). During elementary and especially in middle school, Sharon was the type to be very shy to blend in with the classroom and stick to herself and because of this, her accomplishments were not always recognized. I believe this leads in from stage three as well with her, following in the footsteps of her older sisters, instead of branching out and finding what made her motivated and what her accomplishments were outside of her siblings.

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During adolescence, Teenagers learn where they fit in and what kind of holes they play with in society and specifically their environment for example, if they’re students, athletes, citizens etc. depending on if our caretakers encourage And allow for these individuals to go find their identity Then they can confidently do so. However, if they are forced to follow what their caretaker believes is best, regardless, if that fits who the individual is that can lead them to feeling confused and not knowing who they are because they aren’t able to explore themselves and their interests. If our parents now allow us to go out and explore, we can find identity. If they push us to conform to their views, we can face role confusion and feel lost. Key to our learning are our peers and role models (Sprouts 2017).
My friend Sharon personally has seen this because like I mentioned previously her parents never particularly discouraged her, but they never encouraged her either. They never encouraged her to seek out extracurriculars or find hobbies or interest simply because In her experience coming from an immigrant household, they didn’t know the opportunities that were offered, for example at school. Because of this, even now, when she is graduated, she struggles to find a future career path that she may like because she never put in that effort or was encouraged to put that effort in finding her likes and dislikes, her hobbies, and what interests her most.

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During early adulthood, if adults are able to create intimate relationships, not just physically, but also emotionally with their family with their friends with their loved ones in general they will leave the stage with intimacy. However, if they struggle with being intimate such as having deeper conversations and being able to talk about their day today and their struggles and their accomplishments with others and being able to build those deep connections that can lead them to being isolated as they aren’t able to fully connect with other others on a deep level. “As young adults we slowly understand who we are and we start to let go of the relationships we had built earlier in order to fit in” (Sprouts 2017).

While my friend Sharon mentioned that she does currently struggle with communication in her close relationships such as her friendships because her family was never the verbally affectionate type she has made that change after her teenage years and has begun to try to communicate with those around her and while she has struggled with isolation and feeling lonely because she didn’t feel she could develop those relationship. She now feels differently because she has a better support system and friends that are able to be patient and take the time to communicate with her in her own way. If she continues on this pathway, I believe that she will resolve this stage with intimacy.

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Prediction: Leaving the stage with Generativity

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Prediction: Leaving the stage with Generativity

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During Adulthood, depending on if adults feel accomplished in terms of if they’re able to give back to society and contribute to their community, then They leave the stage with generativity. “When we reach our forties we become comfortable, use our leisure time creatively, and maybe begin contributing to society” (Sprouts 2017). if they feel unsatisfied or have a negative outlook onto the world and Their future, they can leave this stage with stagnation.

Well, I do mention in a previous stage that my friend Sharon know what she would like to do career wise and is a bit stumped one of her interests that she has found is being adventurous. While she doesn’t know how she will fund this hobby or create plans towards the school, she does know that it is something that she wants to accomplish in our future and being able to travel the world and keep busy as she mentions makes me believe that she will resolve this stage with generativity.

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Prediction: Leave this stage with Integrity

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Prediction: Leave this stage with Integrity

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During senior ages, Individuals use this period of time mainly for reflection on their past behaviors, actions, and beliefs. If individuals are able to contently look back on their accomplishments with satisfaction then they leave this stage with integrity. However, If they look back at their actions or beliefs or behaviors with regret or pessimistic view and dissatisfaction, they will leave this stage despair. “We ask, how have I done? If we think we did well, we develop feelings of contentment and integrity. If not, we can experience despair and become grumpy and bitter” (Sprouts 2017).

ultimately, my friend Sharon, during the interview mention that while she is currently uncertain in where her path may take her, she believes that any of the choices and whichever path she ends up taking, will be for a reason, and she will hopefully live a successful life and regardless, if she makes a mistake or ends up doing a different path and she had originally hoped, for, she doesn’t believe that she will live or look back on her life with regret because ultimately her goal in life is just to live life, no matter where it takes her because of that motto that she lives by I believe she will resolve this stage with integrity.