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Identity & Adolescence essay
Adolescence identity essay
Identity developmental theory essay
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Identity often refers to a sort of desperate quest or a deliberately confused search through both a mental and moral experience. However, Erikson approaches this idea as an experience that will almost be a surprise that sneaks up on one, rather than something that can be found. The process of identity formation is located in the core of an individual, and also in the core of ones communal culture. This process is ever changing and developing, but reaches a crisis during the stage of adolescence. At the earliest stage of the identity crisis there is an important need for trust in oneself and others. Adolescents, at this stage, look passionately for ideas to place faith in, and additionally, ideas, which seem worthwhile to prove trustworthy. Erikson explains, “at the same time the adolescent fears a foolish, all too trusting commitment, and will, paradoxically, express his need for faith in loud and cynical mistrust” (Erikson, p. 252). This stage of identity formation is very confusing to youth because of the pull between childhood and adulthood. The adolescent undergoes and inner struggle of whether they wish to follow certain morals and beliefs, and the fear of committing to a specific identity. The second stage establishes the necessity of being defined by what one can will freely. The adolescent is now looking for an opportunity to decide freely on one of the available or unavoidable duty and service, and is at the same time terrified of being forced to engage in activities, which may expose one to ridicule. This further adds to the confusion of adolescents and identity formation. An adolescent is torn between acting shamelessly in the eyes of his or her elders, out of free choice, than to be forced into activities t... ... middle of paper ... ...American males include: viewing as endangered species or as criminals. These two cultural representations are rooted in actual material conditions and reflect existing social conditions and relations. Teachers use both these images for identifying classifications and decision-making for students, but more specifically African American males. Through these societal views children are sorted into categories of “educability” as they get specific reputations in their classrooms. However, many teachers identify these students as “unsalvageable”, which in result become publicly shared by school adults, and are more likely to view these students as “at risk” (Ferguson, p. 326). Once reputations are established, the identity of these students is already being shaped by the social constructions of the schools and the rules and reputations that govern the students.
Beyond the basic need for a sense of control, people are driven by their sense of identity, of who they are. Each person lives in their own universes, which are centered upon their feeling of self-purpose. There are multiple types of identities such as individual and group identities. Each person's identity is formed differently because of the unique experiences every individual encounters. The formation can be affected by many things such as their home environment, social concurrences, and physiological health. This story, A Separate Peace, exhibits interesting main characters which establish the frequent struggles of personal identity in adolescence.
Identity is a group of characteristics, data or information that belongs exactly to one person or a group of people and that make it possible to establish differences between them. The consciousness that people have about themselves is part of their identity as well as what makes them unique. According to psychologists, identity is a consistent definition of one’s self as a unique individual, in terms of role, attitudes, beliefs and aspirations. Identity tries to define who people are, what they are, where they go or what they want to be or to do. Identity could depend on self-knowledge, self-esteem, or the ability of individuals to achieve their goals. Through self-analysis people can define who they are and who the people around them are. The most interesting point about identity is that some people know what they want and who they are, while it takes forever for others to figure out the factors mentioned before. Many of the individuals analyzed in this essay are confused about the different possible roles or positions they can adopt, and that’s exactly the reason they look for some professional help.
Identity can be thought of as the sum of a person’s personality, including their concept of self, and evolves over the course of a lifetime (Kroger, 2003). The major events that define identity usually begin in adolescence- the time that an individual begins facing and directly responding to life challenges (Kroger, 2003). Erik Erikson is often regarded as the father of modern identity theory. Erikson’s theory focused on healthy personality and highlighted the major processes that comprise identity development (Kroger, 2003). According to Erikson, a healthy personality is based on the totality of three different aspects of identity: a person’s ego identity, personal identity, and their social identity (Kroger, 2003). These three aspects are constantly evolving through a process of self discovery that takes place across personal, societal and social contexts (Kroger, 2003). Erikson theorized that these developments occurred in predictable and connected stages of psychosocial development- meaning that the developments occur at set times in an individuals life and that success in later stages is depending on the outcome of earlier stages (Kroger, 2003). These eight interrelated psychosocial development stages begin in infancy and culminate in late adulthood. According to Erikson, as a person manages crises in each stage
The fifth stage of Erikson’s theory, Identity vs. Confusion, is during adolescence, where he or she develops their independence. The children who receive the proper “reinforcement” through family, “will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self as a person and intellectual skills” as mentioned in the textbook of, “Psychology Core Concepts”. Those who neglect, have an unclear sense of self and might be confused about themselves and his or her
Identity – a mix of self expression and self concept (Berger, 2001, p. 434). According to Kathleen Berger, a New York Psychologist and author of the book The Developing Person Throughout the Lifespan, identity is discovered and experimented with during the adolescent years and is often understood as the exploration for a “consistent understanding of one’s self” (Burger, 2011, p.434). Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, theorized that adolescence was a part of life’s fifth psychosocial crisis known as identity vs. role confusion (Berger, 2011, p.434). He theorized that this crisis was resolved by obtaining identity achievement: a process by which the individual evaluates the values and goals of their p...
This paper aims to endorse physicalism over dualism by means of Smart’s concept of identity theory. Smart’s article Sensations and the Brain provides a strong argument for identity theory and accounts for many of it primary objections. Here I plan to first discuss the main arguments for physicalism over dualism, then more specific arguments for identity theory, and finish with further criticisms of identity theory.
Kroger, Jane. Identity in Adolescence – The Balance between Self and Other. London: Routledge, 1989
As an individual progresses through from childhood to adolescence, discovery of self is a central in personal development. For this reason, the concept of identity is explored and analysed (Syed & Seiffge-krenke, 2013). Identity refers to sense of self (Steensma, Kreukels, De Vries
DeCuir-Gunby (2009) states that identity is “a formation process begins at birth, peaks during adolescence, and continues to develop throughout adulthood, thus allowing an individual to fully negotiate multiple identities.” During adolescence, the peak of identity development, it is the most judgemental and children
The points are identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement. The first identity status, identity diffusion, describes youth who have not yet explored or committed to any single identity. Adolescents in this category, have not yet considered their identity at all, showing a low level of commitment and exploration, thus having to deal with situations or crisis as they arise. The second identity status is the identity foreclosure status. This identity status shows a low degree of exploration but a high degree of commitment. Youth, in this status, obtain their identity by committing to accepting the beliefs and values of their family, community, and culture and typically do not question why they are or aren’t doing something. The third identity status is called moratorium. This identity status represents a high degree of exploration but a low degree of commitment. At this status, youth have been prompted to explore and experiment with different values, beliefs, and goals because they are facing an identity “crisis”. They still have not made any final decisions about which beliefs and values are most important to them, so they are not yet committed to any one identity. The final identity status is identity achievement. In this identity status, youth show a high degree of exploration and a high degree of commitment. They have achieved their
According to Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, a major task occurs during adolescence is the resolution of identity crisis. At this stage, adolescents exhibit greater social consciousness and actively seek for a sense of identity. However, the process of identity exploration can be difficult for most teenagers. Some may experience peer pressure and conflicts with friends, while others may suffer from social exclusion (Hoffnung et al., 2016, p. 393). Additionally, teenagers are more inclined to test the social boundaries and often end up in risk-taking behaviours such as smoking, alcohol drinking and sexual activities. The engagement of risk-taking behaviours not only leads to immediate health consequences but could also possibly persist into adulthood (Sales & Irwin Jr,
Finding your own social role is an important part of finding your identity. When it comes to disruptions in identity development, it is difficult for the adolescent to build a stable identity. Society has expectations, as a result of which the young person is often automatically forced into a role in which he/she adapts to the outside world and hides the true self. These roles can lead to a diffuse identity or role that gives the adolescent the feeling of being alien to his/her own body. If a person has not (yet) found his or her own identity or place in society. Only when the adolescent has found their own role and identity and a kind of self-definition with the development of a personality has taken place, will there be a maturity level that
According to Glover, Galliher, & Lamere (2009) formation of individual identity is perhaps the most significant of developmental tasks faced by early adolescents. Early adolescents are expected to negotiate forming a cohesive sense of self whilst their newfound cognitive abilities see their thinking become outward focused, causing them to become acutely aware of their social standing. Peer groups within the social context of early adolescent development play a significant role in identity formation as adolescents turn more toward their peers for support and information over their parents, and social belongingness becomes of primary importance (Teasdale & Bradley-Engen, 2010). Conflict becomes an inherent part of adolescent
In chapter 1, we discuss Erik Erikson. Erikson had a theory about personality developments and in this chapter we focus on one. In Erikson’s psychosocial development he has eight stages and in the fifth stage he writes about Ego identify vs. Role Confusion. This happens in adolescence, which is from ages 12 to 18. During these ages the adolescent is becoming more independent and prepping for adulthood. The individual also is looking to fit into the world and belong to a society.
In Erikson’s Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, I thought, “Who am I?” countless times like many other adolescents. I occupied much of my time trying to construct a firm identity of myself, which I now realized did more harm than good. Letting myself explore different interests would have helped me find my identity than me trying to fake some firm identity.