Chapter 8

Give an example from real life or from fiction to illustrate identity confusion.

Give an example from real life or from fiction of a person who adopts a negative identity, rather than suffer the inner turmoil of identity confusion.

Erikson argues that a child enjoys mastery of the environment for its own sake, and not just as a means to the end of satisfying instinctual drives. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

(a) Give a real-life example to support Erikson's belief that our society creates difficulties for us by stressing contradictory values. (b) Give an example to illustrate the positive support provided by a socially sanctioned role.

Erikson regards mutuality as the ideal form of interpersonal relationship. What societal influences make it more difficult for us to develop mutuality?

Are there important theoretical differences between Erikson's construct of a negative identity and such related ideas as the Adlerian neglected child, Horney's concept of moving against people, and the Sullivanian malevolent transformation? Or are they all much the same?

Does a healthy personality have no basic mistrust at all? Why or why not?

A terrorist blows up a building in a hated foreign country. How might Erikson explain the terrorist's behavior?