Question

1. Pick a theory of identity development (for example, Erikson’s or Marcia’s theories) and explain what the theory’s main arguments are.

2. After summarizing the theory, critique it by discussing the following points: a. Does research support (or disprove) the theory? b. Does the theory hold true in various social contexts, such as for different racial/ethnic groups, people of different socioeconomic statuses, etc.?

Answer 1

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The theory of development given by Erik erikson states that an individual personality develops in a predetermined order through the eight stages of psychosocial development which start from infancy and go to adulthood. During each of the stages, the individual will experience a psychosocial crisis which will result in either positive or negative outcome for the development of the personality of that individual. Erikson stated that this crisis is psychosocial in nature because it involved social influence while being psychological needs of a particular individual. He also stated that successful completion of each stage will help in the development of a healthy personality.

Although the theory provided by Erik Erikson take sociology into account for the development of personality, it must be noticed that this theory is around 70 years old and in those years there have been major psychological and sociological changes for individuals and different ages. There are factors which are sociological in nature which were not discussed in the past or either not dealt with which are now addressed under given priority by the society which makes the approach to this developmental theory a little outdated. However we can use the fundamental approach of this theory for studying the influential factors in the development of an individual's personality.