Stanley and his wife never had children. Now that Stanley is 50, he feels something is missing from his life. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, what has happened to Stanley?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Erikson's psychosocial theory of development, individuals in middle adulthood (ages 40 to 65) face the crisis of generativity vs. stagnation. Generativity involves creating or nurturing things that will outlast the individual, often through parenting. Stagnation occurs when individuals fail to find a way to contribute, leading to feelings of unproductiveness and a lack of involvement in the world. Since Stanley feels something is missing due to not having children, it suggests he is experiencing stagnation.

Stanley and His Wife Never Had Children