Developing healthy self-esteem and an understanding of self-concept are vital for which aspect of psychological development?

• A. Achieving sensorimotor coordination in infancy
• B. Developing basic trust in adulthood
• C. Forming a positive identity during adolescence
• D. Mastering object permanence in early childhood

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key psychological concepts involved: self-esteem refers to a person's overall sense of self-worth or personal value, while self-concept is the collection of beliefs one holds about oneself, including attributes, who and what the self is.
2. Step 2: Recognize the stages of psychological development and their primary tasks. For example, infancy focuses on sensorimotor coordination, early childhood on object permanence, and adulthood on developing trust and relationships.
3. Step 3: Identify which developmental stage is most associated with forming identity and self-understanding. Adolescence is known for identity formation, where individuals explore and develop a coherent sense of self.
4. Step 4: Connect the importance of healthy self-esteem and self-concept to the task of forming a positive identity, which is central to adolescent psychological development according to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.
5. Step 5: Conclude that developing healthy self-esteem and understanding self-concept are vital for forming a positive identity during adolescence, as this stage involves integrating various aspects of the self into a stable and positive identity.