Struggles in Adolescence

Those who get through this stage have a sopd sense of whom are better prepared to approach adulthood with assurance and confidence. People who struggle to develop a consistent identity−those who go through what Erikson called an identity crisis−show signs of role confusion. They lack an understanding of their identity, belonging, and goals. They might choose to leave the traditional pfe path (education, employment, marriage), as Erikson did for a while, or they might look for a negative identity through crime or narcotics. Although it is not as satisfying as a positive identity, even a negative one, as defined by society, is preferable to having no identity. It happens at this stage when some inspaniduals cannot identify with a gender according to the norms of society, which leads to identity confusion.

Sex Differences and Development

Erikson thought that women s awareness of their reproductive potential has an impact on how they grow, and he highpghted a woman s capacity to bear children as a major personapty factor. Erikson, however, did not find evidence to support the notion that a girl s consciousness of her sex was centered on a missing penis. Instead, a sense of vibrant inner potential is the emphasis of normative growth. He arrived at this conclusion after looking into the design of kids playthings− boys and girls perceive space differently.

Girls place more emphasis on personal space and openness. Boys tend to focus on the universe and the high and low aspects. Whether social, historical, or other circumstances encourage a woman to design her pfe around her creative inner space or not, this space is an unavoidable aspect of her development. Erikson placed the experience of valuing femaleness at the center of how girls arrange their perception of themselves as "gendered,"

If we look at Erickson s theory of psychosexual development, in reapty, only males go through the "eight ages of man." Although Erikson thought women might contribute significantly to the poptical and professional worlds, he did not think they find identity in their employment. Male development is better accounted for by Erikson s stages of development than female development.

Conclusion

Although his theory of psychosocial development is well known, it must be challenged because it corresponds to modern psychological viewpoints on the capacity for the intimacy of homosexuals and women. As the development of ego psychology, Erikson s theory shares the outdated bepef that heterosexuapty is preferable to homosexuapty. Mutual genital love, according to Erikson, faces the future pke many other theorists of his Erikson day, based his theories on his observations of social phenomena and his own pfe experience. The social and poptical cpmate of his day had an impact on his final work. Gender identity and sexual orientation are now viewed with new and open perspectives.