Erikson’s theory views personality formation as a lifelong process, with success at one stage (say, as an infant gaining trust) preparing us to meet the next challenge. However, not everyone faces...

Erikson’s theory views personality formation as a lifelong process, with success at one stage (say, as an infant gaining trust) preparing us to meet the next challenge. However, not everyone faces these challenges in the exact order presented by Erikson. Nor is it clear that failure to meet the challenge of one stage of life means that a person is doomed to fail later on. A broader question, raised earlier in our discussion of Piaget’s ideas, is whether people in other cul- tures and in other times in history would define a successful life in Erikson’s terms. In sum, Erikson’s model points out that many factors, including the family and school, shape our personalities. In the next section, we take a close look at these important agents of socialization. Check Your Learning In what ways does Erikson take a broader view of socialization than other thinkers presented in this chapter?