fei75766_ch07_206-241.indd 220  02/06/20 11:52 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories220
Competence: The Basic Strength of the School Age
From theconflict ofindustry versus inferiority, school-age children develop thebasic 
strength ofcompetence: thatis,theconfidence touseone’s physical andcognitive abil-
itiestosolve theproblems thataccompany school age.Competence laysthefounda -
tionfor“co-operative participation inproductive adult life”(Erikson, 1968, p.126).
Ifthestruggle between industry andinferiority favors either inferiority oran
overabundance ofindustry, children arelikely togiveupandregress toanearlier 
stage ofdevelopment. They maybecome preoccupied withinfantile genital andOedi -
palfantasies andspend most oftheirtimeinnonproductive play. Thisregression is
called inertia, theantithesis ofcompetence andthecorepathology oftheschool age.
Adolescence
Adolescence, theperiod from puberty toyoung adulthood, isoneofthemost crucial 
developmental stages because, bytheendofthisperiod, aperson must gainafirm
sense ofego identity. Although egoidentity neither begins norendsduring adoles -
cence, thecrisis between identity andidentity confusion reaches itsascendance during 
thisstage. From thiscrisis ofidentity versus identity confusion emerges fidelity, the
basic strength ofadolescence.
Erikson (1982) sawadolescence asaperiod ofsocial latency, justashesaw
school ageasatimeofsexual latency. Although adolescents aredeveloping sexually 
andcognitively, inmost Western societies theyareallowed topostpone lasting com-
mitment toanoccupation, asexpartner, oranadaptive philosophy oflife.They are
permitted toexperiment inavariety ofways andtotryoutnewroles andbeliefs while 
seeking toestablish asense ofegoidentity. Adolescence, then, isanadaptive phase of
personality development, aperiod oftrialanderror.
Puberty
Puberty, defined asgenital maturation, plays arelatively minor roleinErikson’s con-
ceptofadolescence. Formost young people, genital maturation presents nomajor 
sexual crisis. Nevertheless, puberty isimportant psychologically because ittriggers 
expectations ofadult roles yetahead—roles thatareessentially social andcanbefilled 
onlythrough astruggle toattain egoidentity.
Identity versus Identity Confusion
Thesearch foregoidentity reaches aclimax during adolescence asyoung people 
strive tofindoutwhotheyareandwhotheyarenot.With theadvent ofpuberty, 
adolescents lookfornewroles tohelpthem discover theiridentities. Erikson believed 
thatexploring questions ofoccupational andideological identity werethecritical 
issues during adolescence (1956, 1963). Thatis,what dowewant todowithour
livesandwhat dowebelieve about religion andpolitics? James Marcia lateradded 
sexual identity toErikson’s domains ofadolescent identities toaddress thequestions: 
Towhom areweattracted andwhoisattracted tous?(Marcia etal.,1993; Schenkel 
&Marcia, 1972). Together these three identity domains—occupational, ideological, 
andsexual—form thecornerstone ofidentity development andexploration during 
adolescence. Inthissearch, young people draw from avariety ofearlier self-images Final PDF to printer