Multiple Identities as Viewed by Eriksonian Theory and Its Critics: A Psychological Perspective With Relevance to Contemporary Jewish Education

The first part of this paper presents the issue of "multiple identities" as it has been addressed in Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory and as it has been addressed by Erikson's critics. Within psychology the debate surrounding Erikson's theory has focused on a) whether and how the current sociological postmodern context engenders a fragmentation of identity, b) whether this should be viewed as problematic, and c) whether psychology itself reflects and contributes to problematizing multiple identities. The second part of the paper discusses this debate's possible relevance to the field of Jewish education by presenting a series of issues around which Jewish educators might deliberate as they seek to apply insights from this psychological debate to their work. In both parts of the article, a third level of intermediate positions is presented as an alternative to the dichotomizing debate.