Carl Erikson's Eight Stage Model

Problem Scenario Cold air fills his lungs, his legs are moving so fast he can barely feel them, and beads of sweat make their way down the side of his face. The finish line is getting closer, he runs even faster. The only thing standing between him and the gold medal are the two runners ahead of him. He pushes harder. The people cheering along the sidelines become a blur. He gets closer to the end…and closer…and closer…Oh no. He halts as he watches the runners ahead of him glide past the finish line. It’s over. He came in third place. He wipes the sweat from his forehead. Eyes fixed on the ground, he dejectedly walks to the bleachers where he is met by his coach and father. “It’s fine Matt, you ran a good race. Remember to stretch and I’ll see you tomorrow for practice.” says his coach as he pats him on the back. His father remains silent. Eyes still fixed on the ground, Matt mutters “Thanks” under this breath. Matt doesn’t lift his eyes to meet his father’s because he knows what he’ll see. Disappointment. Again. The car ride back home is quiet. Matt’s father has yet to say a word to him. Matt looks out the window,

Role Confusion” stage, a point where most adolescents (Age 12-19) seem to fit. At this stage, most individuals develop important facets of their identity. It is also an essential aspect of identity development that, if not entirely fulfilled, can lead to identity crises in later parts of life. Matt, like most teenagers, must achieve a sense of identity in occupation, sex roles, politics, and religion. Matt struggles with his identity as a track star and the means by which he hopes to achieve his goals. It is possible his dedication to track is only because of his father’s previous dedication to the sport. His anorexia leads to eating behaviors that are often associated with females (i.e. eating salad). Matt deals with being shamed for exhibiting female traits and having an effeminate