What are the stages of psychosocial development relevant to adolescence or early adulthood in Self II?

• A. Erikson’s identity vs. role confusion (adolescence) and intimacy vs. isolation (early adulthood) as key stages influencing self-development.
• B. Piaget’s sensorimotor stage is the primary framework for these periods.
• C. Maslow’s physiological needs alone determine self-development.
• D. Freud’s psychosexual stages are the sole drivers of adolescence and early adulthood.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how psychosocial tasks shape self-development during adolescence and early adulthood, using Erikson’s theory. In adolescence, the central challenge is forming a coherent sense of who you are—your identity and the roles you might play in the future—which Erikson describes as identity vs. role confusion. In early adulthood, the focus shifts to building intimate, meaningful relationships and making commitments to others, captured by intimacy vs. isolation. These two stages together explain how self-definition and social bonds evolve from teen years into young adulthood, aligning with Self II’s emphasis on how self-concept and connections develop across these periods. Other theories don’t fit as neatly: Piaget’s sensorimotor stage is about infancy, Maslow’s physiological needs cover broad, non-stage-specific motivations, and Freud’s psychosexual stages address different motivations/themes that aren’t the best framework for the adolescent-to-young-adulthood self-development this item targets.