Critique a Theory
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Is there a theory covered in this chapter that you disagree with? Is there a theory you absolutely loved? Pick ONE theory to summarize, analyze, and critique.
You only need to post your answer, you do not need to respond to classmates*
Here is a sample of how I might respond to this assignment:
Erikson’s theory presents an 8-stage linear model of human development from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage, Erikson presents a new psychological crises that the individual is trying to resolve. For example, in his theory, he presents the first year of life as the time for the individual to develop a concept of trust vs. mistrust. His theory says that if the adult caregivers in the child’s life are successful in meeting the infants needs, the child will develop a concept of trust. A key component in this theory is finding a good sense of balance between trust and mistrust. Being overly trusting is harmful to a developing person in much the same way as not being able to trust people. Erikson’s theory says that unresolved issues in this stage will carry over into the next stage and that the person will continue struggling with trust issues for the rest of their lives.
I disagree with Erikson’s theory because I do not believe that psychosocial development is as linear as Erikson maps it out to be.
I will use myself as an example:
I am currently a single, unmarried 35-year-old woman with no children. According to Erikson’s theory, I am in the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage (19-40 years of age). Throughout the 16 years I have been in this stage, I have had periods where I have been in committed relationships, and other periods (as long as 6 years at a time) where I have not been in a committed relationship. According to Erikson, if I do not get married and have kids by the time I am 40, I am going to be lonely for the rest of my life.
I am going to argue that societal expectations have shifted, and many people are choosing to stay single. Some are choosing to be single parents. Others are choosing to get married and not have children. In my case, I am going to say that I might have skipped a stage/or have been in overlapping stages. I made the conscious choice to stay focused on my education and career goals rather than to get married and have children. Erikson’s theory states that a focus on one’s career comes in the next stage, Generativity vs. Stagnation (40-to-65-years-old).
At age 29, I was working full-time as a preschool teacher at UCLA, driving back and forth from Arleta to Westwood, and Northridge where I was simultaneously pursuing a graduate degree full time. While 6 units in grad school is a full time load, I was taking 12 units to save time and money on tuition. Because I focused my energy on time and money, I did not have time to focus on any cute guys on campus (it also helped that I am a heterosexual woman, and there was only one man in the entire Educational Psychology and Counseling-Early Childhood Program who was enrolled in my classes and he was just not my type).
Fast forward 6 years, I am making more than 3 times my salary as a preschool teacher. I am supporting college students on their educational and career journeys. I am helping families of young children understand child development and deepen their bonds with each other. I am training and developing the skills of preschool teachers who I supervise. I feel completely fulfilled with my career, and based on Erikson’s stages, I still have 5 years before I am at the right age to have accomplished these things.
Am I going to be lonely forever because I choose to focus on my career and education instead of starting a family and having children?
Will I go back to focus on finding myself the fairy-tale prince charming of my dreams, or am I just living too much in the real world to care? According to Erikson, I still have 5 years… According to me, I feel a sense of love and appreciation from everyone around me.
As long as I am with myself, I am never alone.
