PGICH Noida NO-2025
Applied Psychology
Easy

The 'identity crisis' theory of children was developed by:

Appeared in: PGICH Noida NO-2025

Explanation

  • Erik Erikson, a prominent psychoanalyst, introduced the concept of the 'identity crisis' as a core component of his theory of psychosocial development.
  • This crisis is the central conflict of the fifth developmental stage, 'Identity vs. Role Confusion,' which occurs during adolescence.
  • In this stage, individuals explore their personal values, beliefs, and goals to form a cohesive and stable sense of self.
  • Successfully resolving this crisis leads to the virtue of 'fidelity'—being true to oneself—while failure results in role confusion and a weak sense of personal identity.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option B: Myra Levine is a nursing theorist, not a developmental psychologist. Her work is unrelated to the concept of an identity crisis.
  • Option C: Faye Abdellah is a nursing theorist whose work focuses on a patient-centered approach to care, not developmental psychology.
  • Option D: Imogene King is a nursing theorist known for her work on nurse-patient interactions and goal setting.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Psychosocial Development Theories as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Understanding Erikson's stages allows nurses to provide age-appropriate psychosocial support. For example, recognizing that an adolescent patient is navigating an identity crisis helps the nurse to support their need for independence and self-expression.
  • This framework helps nurses anticipate patient behaviors and stressors related to their developmental stage, leading to more holistic and empathetic care.
  • What if? If the question were about a 70-year-old patient reflecting on their life with regret, the relevant crisis would be 'Integrity vs. Despair' (Stage 8). Nursing interventions would focus on life review, finding meaning, and coping with feelings of despair, rather than identity formation.
How to Approach the Question
  • This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of major psychological and nursing theories.
  • First, identify the key concept in the question stem, which is the "'identity crisis' theory."
  • Next, mentally review the major theorists and their core concepts that you have studied.
  • Associate the term 'identity crisis' with Erik Erikson's eight-stage theory of psychosocial development.
  • To confirm your answer, briefly recall the theories of the other options (Levine, Abdellah, King) and recognize that they are nursing theorists with different conceptual frameworks, none of which involve the 'identity crisis'.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Psychosocial Development Theories
  • Stem keywords: 'identity crisis' theory, developed by
  • Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QYDETIcqXUa0S-1j8BI_kv

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 3364-3366, 3366-3368

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 15248-15250

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