Lesson 15: Erikson: Developing Industry


Attention

Grades are one of the first experiences we have of the formal process of...comparison


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify how schools, peers, sports and other aspects of childhood impact a child's developing identity

Teaching

Recall Erikson's first 3 stages:

  • Basic Trust versus Mistrust
  • Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt
  • Initiative versus Guilt

Industry vs. Inferiority

During this stage we are capable of learning, creating and accomplishing numerous new skills and knowledge, thus developing a sense of industry. This is also a very social stage of development and if we experience unresolved feelings of inadequacy and inferiority among our peers, we can have serious problems in terms of competence and self-esteem.

As the world expands a bit, our most significant relationship is with the school and neighborhood. Parents are no longer the complete authorities they once were, although they are still important.

Hannah learns to Jump Rope

Years ago my daughter Hannah came home from school and was crestfallen that she did not know how to jump rope. Apparently a lot of her peers could jump rope and she felt very inferior not being able to do so.

We went out a bought a jump rope that weekend and she practiced all weekend until she was practically jogging backwards while jumping rope!

She went back to school and demonstrated her new skill to her peers. After that, I don't think I ever saw her jump rope again! What happened?


Assessment

Lesson 15 Quiz

  1. How does being gifted or having a learning disability effect our sense if Industry vs. Inferiority?
  2. How does effective teaching impact our sense of Industry vs. Inferiority?
  3. How do friends impact our sense of Industry vs. Inferiority?
  4. How do sports effect our sense of Industry vs. Inferiority?