Cross-Cultural Limitations in Erikson's, Piaget's, and Kohlberg's Theories

Essay 11
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Introduction
Cross-cultural psychology examines the influence of cultural factors on human behavior, cognition, and development. This essay aims to explore various aspects of cross-cultural psychology, including the criticisms of Erikson's, Piaget's, and Kohlberg's theories, cultural responses to distress, microaggressions, conformity in collectivist and individualist cultures, the impact of culture on locus of control, and the highest form of religious bonding. Citing support from Shiraev and Levy’s text "Cross-cultural psychology: Critical thinking and contemporary applications" and additional scholarly sources, this essay conducts an in-depth discussion of these topics.
Cross-Cultural Limitations in Erikson's, Piaget's, and Kohlberg's Theories
Critics have cited various cross-cultural limitations in Erikson's, Piaget's, and Kohlberg's theories of development. These theories have significantly contributed to our understanding of human development, but their applicability to non-Western cultures is limited. According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, individuals go through a series of stages, each characterized by a psychosocial crisis that they must overcome for progressive personality development. However, this theory was primarily developed based on observations of individuals from Western cultures. The emphasis on individual autonomy and independence in Western societies may not align with cultural values and beliefs in non-Western cultures, where collectivism and interdependence are prioritized (Apfelbaum, Norton, & Sommers, 2012). As a result, the manifestation and resolution of psychosocial crises may differ across cultures.
Similarly, Piaget's theory of cognitive development focuses on the development of logical thinking and reasoning abilities. However, Piaget's research was primarily conducted on Western children, which may limit its generalizability to non-Western cultures. Cultural variations in socialization practices and educational systems can influence the cognitive development of individuals and the acquisition of specific cognitive skills (Santrock, 2019).
Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposes that people develop through a series of stages, each characterized by different moral reasoning abilities. However, this theory has been criticized for its Western bias, as it was developed based on research conducted with Western participants (Turiel, 1983). Cultural variations in values, beliefs, and socialization practices can lead to different moral frameworks and priorities in non-Western cultures, challenging the universality of Kohlberg's stages of moral development. To overcome these cross-cultural limitations, researchers have called for the inclusion of more diverse samples in the study of human development.
By incorporating individuals from non-Western cultures, researchers can better understand the complexities of development across different cultural contexts (Apfelbaum et al., 2012). This can contribute to developing more culturally sensitive theories that better capture the diversity of human experiences and developmental trajectories. While Erikson's, Piaget's...