sidequester22

[sidequester22]

My Psychology

Identity exploration (Pomerantz, Chapter 9), which describes how adolescents seek to define their personal values, beliefs, and sense of self.

This concept aligns with Lara Jean’s journey, as she navigates her insecurities and gains confidence through relationships and self-discovery.

Pomerantz, A. M. (2020). My psychology (3rd ed.). Macmillan.

[sidequester22]

Effectiveness of Erikson’s Theory for Lara Jean Covey’s Development

Yes, Erikson’s Identity vs. Role Confusion theory do well in explaining Laura Jean's development because we see her exploration of self-identity and relationships, highlighting her growth in confidence and self-awareness.

The theory kind of captures her experiences but doesn’t fully address unique cultural pressures she faces as a Korean-American, such as balancing family expectations with her personal wants.

Erikson’s theory is a helpful to start with, but it may lack nuance in addressing how cultural and family influences partically can impact Lara Jean’s identity formation.

Erikson’s Western-centered approach may overlook the depth of Lara Jean’s experiences as a Korean-American girl. Cultural identity plays a strong role in her development, suggesting the need for additional theories that more directly consider this.

[sidequester22]

Erikson's stages applied

According to Erikson, Lara Jean is in the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, where adolescents work to learn who they truly are.

Erikson would see Lara Jean representing this stage by confronting her insecurities and learning self-expression through her relationships.

Her cultural background, family support, and new social experiences all influence her development, particularly when her love letters is made public and forces her to become more self-aware.

[sidequester22]

Erik Erikson (1902–1994) is a German-American psychologist that presented Freud’s ideas to create a lifespan approach to personality development, emphasizing social and cultural influences.

Erikson proposed eight stages of development, each with a key conflict. For adolescents, Identity vs. Role Confusion is the primary challenge, as they explore personal identity and learn themselves.

Erikson believed development is lifelong, influenced by relationships, and that each stage builds on the previous one. He proposed that social contexts and culture shape personality.

Critics argue Erikson’s stages are too structured, not accounting for cultural diversity or life experiences that may cause people to revisit stages, which may make the theory less universally applicable.

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Synopsis

Setting

To All the Boys I've Loved Before is set in the present day Charlottesville, Virginia, mostly at Lara Jean Covey’s high school and her family’s home. These places is where she went through her journey of young love and self-discovery.

Major Characters

Lara Jean Covey: A shy high school junior who secretly writes love letters to her crushes but never sends them.

Peter Kavinsky: The popular, cocky jock who becomes her unexpected romantic partner.

Kitty Covey: Lara Jean's younger sister, who unknowingly sends out Lara Jean’s secret letters.

The story presents identity and self-discovery, love and relationships, family bonds, and the courage to be vulnerable. Lara Jean’s journey reflects the challenges of adolescence as she learns to face her fears and open herself up to others. Lara Jean learns how to confront her insecurities and discover her own voice. Her journey reveals the many forms of love in her life, from family bonds to romantic relationships that helps her embrace her fears.

The main problem starts when Lara Jean’s private love letters are mailed out, forcing her to confront her feelings for Peter. They enter a fake relationship, which eventually deepens into real feelings. The story ends with Lara Jean learning to embrace vulnerability, stepping out of her comfort zone, and discovering who she truly is.

[sidequester22]

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before