Page "Erik Erikson" Paragraph 26

On ego identity versus role confusion, ego identity enables each person to have a sense of individuality, or as Erikson would say, " Ego identity, then, in its subjective aspect, is the awareness of the fact that there is a self-sameness and continuity to the ego's synthesizing methods and a continuity of one's meaning for others " ( 1963 ).

Role confusion, however, is, according to Barbara Engler in her book Personality Theories ( 2006 ), " the inability to conceive of oneself as a productive member of one's own society " ( 158 ).

This inability to conceive of oneself as a productive member is a great danger ; it can occur during adolescence, when looking for an occupation.