The Postmodern Critique of Developmental Perspectives

This special issue originated in a symposium held at the 2003 Meetings of the Society for Research on Identity Formation that focused on the postmodernist critique of the developmental approach to identity. It invites scholars to evaluate the merits of Rattansi and Phoenix's arguments. The intention is to look for both areas of common ground and areas where there might be a collegial "agreement to disagree." Readers see that several stand back from the Eriksonian approach, while others respond from within the Eriksonian and/or Macia approach. The special issue hopes to stimulate a dialogue that advances Identity Studies, helping to reverse what seems to be a Balkanization of this fast growing and increasingly popular area of research and theory.