Postmodernizm, Identity Status and Life Satisfaction

Year 2009, Volume: 4 Issue: 31, 32 - 42, 26.04.2009

Sevgi Özgüngör

Abstract

Postmodernizm, identity status and life satisfaction. Erikson’s ‘Psychosocial Development Theory’ has continued to inspire numerous studies since the1950’s. Research provided a strong support for Erikson’s theory as a crucial theory in explaining individual’s development in different developmental stages and across cultures. However, in recent years Erikson’s theory has been subject of some criticism on the ground that the theory is more appropriate in explaining modern man and inefficient in explaining the development taking place within today’s everlasting changing context, which is described by most as postmodernism. The purpose of this study was to test whether the identity statuses of individuals who endorse post modern values and modern values differ and to determine the predictive value of postmodern values and identity status in explaining life satisfaction. For this purpose, 232 college students responded to the items measuring their identity statuses, post modern and modern values and life satisfaction. In the data analyses, the correlation, ANOVA and regression analyses were used. According to the results, there was no difference between individuals who endorse modern values or post modern values; however, indivuduals who endorse modern values reported more diffusion and foreclosure status and less identity achievement. Further, while endorsement of post modern values, moratorium and diffusion status predicted life satisfaction negatively, identity achievement predicted life satisfaction positively. The results were in line with previous research supporting Erikson’s theory, proving the theory still as a useful and valid theory.

Keywords

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Postmodern Değerler, Kimlik Oluşumu ve Yaşam Doyumu

Abstract

Erikson’ın ‘Psikososyal Gelişim Kuramı’ öne sürüldüğü 1950’lerden beri sayısız çalışmaya konu olmuştur. Bu çalışmaların ortak bulgusu kuramın farklı gelişim aşamalarındaki bireyler ve farklı kültürler için geçerli olduğu yönündedir. Ancak son yıllarda Erikson’ın kuramı ve özellikle kimlik gelişimine ilişkin açıklamaları modern insanı temsil ettiği ve günümüzün post modern anlayışı çerçevesinde yetersiz kalabileceği gerekçesiyle eleştirilere maruz kalmıştır. Post modern değişim sürecinde Erikson’ın kuramı yeterliliğini yitiriyor ise post modern değerlere sahip bireylerin kimlik statüleri ile modern değerlere sahip bireylerin kimlik statüleri arasında farklılıklar olmalıdır. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı post modern değerler ile modern değerleri benimseyen bireylerin kimlik statü düzeyleri açısından farklılaşıp farklışamadıklarının test edilmesi ve post modern değerler ve kimlik statülerinin yaşam doyumunu yordama gücünün belirlenmesiydi. Bu amaçla 232 üniversite öğrencisinin kimlik statüleri, post modern ve modern değerleri ve hayattan
aldıkları doyum düzeyleri ölçülmüştür. Verilerin çözümlenmesinde korelasyon, ANOVA ve regresyon analizleri kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlar post modern değerlere sahip bireylerin kimlik statülerinin modern değerlere sahip bireylerin kimlik statülerinden farklılaşmadığı, ancak modern değerleri benimseyen bireylerin her iki değerlere de sahip bireylere kıyasla daha az başarılı kimlik ve daha çok kimlik kargaşası ve
bağımlı kimlikstatülerinde olduğunu göstermiştir. Aynı zamanda, kimlik statüsü ile hayattan alınan doyumun anlamlı düzeyde ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Spesifik olarak, yaşam doyumunu postmodern değerler, kimlik arayışı ve kimlik karmaşası statüleri olumsuz yönde yordarken başarılı kimlik statüsü olumlu yönde yordamıştır. Sonuçlar Erikson’ın kimlik gelişimine ilişkin açıklamalarının hem modern hem post modern kültürel değerlere sahip bireylerin gelişimini açıklamada geçerli olduğu görüşünü destekler niteliktedir.

Keywords

Postmodernizm, kimlik statüsü, yaşam doyumu

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