One primise of Erikson's theory was that in stage 5 cognitive development is extremely important. If that is the case, why can't a 16 year old considering dropping out of school make that decision from a cognitive perspective?

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Explanation:

Erik Erikson was a psychologist and a psychoanalyst. Erik Erikson was born on the 15th day of the month of June, in the year 1902 and he died on the 12th day of May, in the year 1994 in Massachusetts, United States of America.

Erik Erikson proposed the theory of psychosocial development and that psychosocial development has stages and these stages are; Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation and Ego Integrity vs. Despair.

The fifth (5th) stage of the cognitive development is known as Identity vs. Role Confusion. This stage is a very important stage because whatever the the child does at this stage will affect him or her when he or she becomes an adult.

The reason a 16 year old considering dropping out of school can not make that decision from a cognitive perspective is because the child has NOT been CONFUSING his or her ROLES in the society . The child desire to be a great person in the future and when he or she thinks logically the child will never want to drop out.

answer; decipher the motives for why people behave the way they do;