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It is important to consider worldview when studying development theories simply because
almost everyone has a different worldview. Some people have a worldview that is centered around God
being the creator of the Universe, while others do not believe in God. Perhaps my developmental theory
would be different than someone else’s who did not have childhood trauma. We are all raised in
different family dynamics, different societies, different belief systems, and different atmospheres
essentially providing us all with a different worldview. It is imperative to understand the view of a
person not only in studying development theories but in all aspects of life.
In Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development theory, he defined stages from infancy to late
adulthood. One of the key concepts was how the outcomes were derived from family and society.
Whereas perhaps Freud’s was based on the desire for sexual fulfillment, Erikson’s was based on the
ability to discover key concepts that essentially built into a person’s identity. He provides different
situations or crises that the person faces in order to maintain healthy development. It essentially leads
to someone having a solid identity of knowledge or who they are or ultimately ending up with an
“identity crisis” which is ironically named after his theory.
My worldview is compatible with Erikson’s theory in the ways that I can identify my life and the
lack of the desired outcomes being present. This would be because the answer to his description is
almost no across the board. For example, I have experienced huge trust issues most of my life because
my parents were not reliable. I was molested so I had tons of shame and guilt and therefore unconfident
in my ability to pursue my own goals. I grew up with mass isolation and had the fear of being loved for
who I was. The list goes on. Fortunately, therapy and Jesus have helped undo what was done in my
younger years, but seeing Erikson’s stages definitely resonates and correlates with my worldview and
how the upbringing of a child shapes them for life.
3
When reviewing worldview and its relationship to theories, it is interesting to see how everyone
can be different. It is also possible for someone’s worldview to change as they undergo changes, which
essentially would change the theory. I would suffice to say it would be most effective to compare all the
theories and arrive at a “sum of” conclusion, as everyone did not have the same upbringing or life and
will view everything differently. Being aware that not everyone has the same thoughts or opinions or
views as you is a solid tool to have in life in general – not just when reviewing developmental theories.
Understanding and even accepting that views are different will help us all grow and become a greater
force. It reminds me of being in unity and operating as a whole instead of disagreeing because we were
not raised the same as others. Understanding differences is key. This is an excellent tool to keep at hand
as I continue to pursue this degree and review other theories.
