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Patrick Playing Dumb: Initiative vs. Guilt
In this Patrick plays dumb in front of SpongeBob's parents which ends up backfiring and creating guilt.
This type of behavior is usually demonstrated in children ages 3-5 whiling learning how to plan with a purpose and developing a sense of learning through experience. During this stage of crisis initiative can be found with good decisions and questions. When the wrong choices are made this can lead to feelings of guilt and teach the individual learning hard lessons. -
Patrick Copying SpongeBob: Industry vs Inferiority
Patrick decides to copy everything SpongeBob did to win an award. Patrick demonstrated industry by getting a job and trying to work hard but ultimately results in feeling inferior when his work results in failure rather than success like his friend. Erikson's crisis between industry and inferiority recognition is being sought for social situation and hard work. Success produces feelings of industry and confidence while failure leads to inferiority and self-doubt. -
Patrick's Old Shell: Generativity vs. Stagnation
Patrick is reunited with his old shell. At first Patrick is indifferent to the old shell but once he learns the shell feels abandoned and sad he begins to show empathy and nurturing. The crisis here is the choice between improving the world around you to demonstrate generativity or following a path devoid of purpose and full of selfishness and demonstrating stagnation. Patrick is able to make the changes needed to grow into a caregiver role.