ecognised thathis conceptualisation of identity and the life cycle were centred in modern Westernsociety, he still used them in situations where they may not have been applicable in thesame way (Stevens 1983). So what is it then, that Erikson has produced? It is hardlycomparable to the biological and natural sciences with their requirements of precision,replicability and testable hypothesis. Therefore the theory is best regarded, to adopt hisown words, as a tool to think with rather than a prescription to abide by (Stevens1983)....
