Forty-year-old Carl is very proud that he has the fastest car on the road and the finest house on the block, but feels lonely and isolated when he goes home to his family. Carl is likely to be in Erikson's _____ stage of development.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carl's focus on material possessions and external achievements suggests that he may be struggling with feelings of stagnation, or a lack of productivity and purpose in his personal life. This is the primary challenge of Erikson's generativity vs. stagnation stage, which typically occurs during middle adulthood. The other options do not fit Carl's situation as well; ego integrity vs. despair involves reflecting on one's life and accepting the eventual end of life, intimacy vs. desolation involves forming close relationships with others, and identity vs. role confusion involves exploring and solidifying one's sense of self during adolescence.

Forty-Year-Old Carl Is Very Proud That He Has the Fastest