A look at Erik Erikson's "Theory of Identity Formation" and how it can be used to better understand the Amish culture.
Written in 2001; 7,925 words; 13 sources; $ 171.95
Paper Summary:
This paper crosses disciplines of psychology and sociology/anthropology. It uses Erik Erikson's famous "Theory of Identity Formation" to try and make sense of Amish culture. It examines social and psychological aspects of Amish life from birth to death. It finds that Erikson's theory works well and is substantiated by Amish life?especially Amish adolescence.
From the Paper:
"With this paper I am concerned with observing Old Order Amish Society (primarily in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) through an Eriksonian framework of identity formation. His epigenetic cycle, the Eight Stages of Man, will be played out using Amish social customs and practices extracted from numerous literary sources, though most predominantly from John Hostetler's Amish Society. Of particular interest, and most emphasized, is the fifth epigenetic stage?the identity crisis. To expedite a resolution during this adolescent phase, Erikson prescribes a psychological "moratorium" which corresponds directly to the seemingly peculiar Amish practice of relaxing behavioral standards of teenagers. In order not to misrepresent individual identity as collective identity writ small, the notion of Amish personhood is later invoked, although is more briefly discussed. The successful resolution of an adolescent's identity crisis seems to coincide with the decision to enter the church, which, marked by the baptism ceremony, signifies attainment of full personhood. Despite that Erikson's notion of identity is predicated upon a fairly determinant and universalistic psychobiological trajectory, and therefore of limited utility for comparative studies, it is believed useful here as an analytic tool for understanding Amish development given their strong cultural identity and social dictates of personal behavior."
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