Erikson's D evelopmental S tages

1. Erikson's Developmental Stages

2. Trust vs. Mistrust - Wolverine • Father was alcoholic, abusive • Mother was neglectful • Taken by scientists of the weapon X program, experimented on, tortured • Skeleton laced with metal • Sees the world as cold, fearsome place

3. Autonomy vs. shame/doubt - Spiderman • Uncle dies indirectly because of him • Fights crime and super villians in new york • Is generally hated by the city he protects • Questions if he’s doing the right thing

4. Initiative vs. Guilt - Hulk • Prone to uncontrollable fits of rage, in which he may damage people or property • Doesn’t feel comfortable in public; doesn’t trust himself • Feels out of control, shame

5. Industry vs Inferiority - Loki • Prince, but not heir to the throne • Never truly fit in, hard to live in Thor (brother)’s shadow • Feels inferior around family • Never truly fit in with his people, lied to, leads to villainous deeds

6. Identity vs. Role Confusion - Captain America • Wasn’t allowed to join US Army • Once made super soldier, felt he wasn’t used to his full potential • Frozen and woken up years later, feels out of touch with the modern world when suddenly thrust into a world with new technology

7. Intimacy vs. Isolation - The Thing • When transformed from a dude into a thing, his wife leaves him • This adds to his insecurity about his appearance and feelings of “forever alone”ness • Meets a blind woman, who likes him, doesn’t care how he looks. He feels unworthy of love

8. Generativityvs Stagnation - Iron Man • Realizes that his weapons company is supplying weapons to terrorist organizations, rebels etc • Doesn’t want that to be the legacy he leaves behind, builds Iron Man suit to destroy weapons, keeps it to fight bad guys • Self centered, but still being helpy

9. Integrity vs Despair - Professor X • Was always the nerd type, bullied by other people. Lost his hair at a young age. • Took mutants in and taught them they weren't inferior. • Constant relationships ended, lost two close friends by picking an opposite side.

10. Words of wisdom • The first thing I would say to the child on my knee would be, don’t let fear rule your life. Its something I have always struggled with and look back now and in some cases wish I hadn't been afraid of. You need to know that fear is just a word really. Look at the world and keep your rational thought clear, but if you want to do something and feel you can’t just because you are afraid. You could be passing up an amazing experience. Love, friends, excitement, so much can pass by in such a short time and leave you with regret if you don’t take action in what you want to do or feels right. So do it, don’t look back. Take the leap.

11. Words of wisdom(What I would say to my favorite grandchild if it was on my knee) • Hey sport. Get off my knee, there’s a spot on the floor. There, that’s better. I’m old now. I probably have arthritis or something. Listen up, tiger: you are my favorite grandchild. Heed my wisdom. If you want to do something, do it. Be yourself, do what you want to do. If things suck, remember that it gets better. If you’re passionate about something, do it, tiger. If you want something done, make it happen champ. Don’t wait for things to come to you, go get what you want, and be who you want. Most importantly: “We can be the bands we want to hear/We can define our own generation” – Tom Gabel