Adolescent Identity Development

The Identity Development in Adolescents

Adolescents is a period for teenagers to refine their identities; they ask themselves identity-related questions like “who am I really is? Who should I be?” in order to define and characterize themselves (Myers 203). When they find a consistent, agreeable, and comfortable definition of who they are, they find their identity. One’s identity can be influenced by many factors; both parents and peers are people who adolescents talk to when they seek for advice and help; however, while going through the stage of adolescence, teenagers tend to push their parents away and seeks for freedom, as they have less time to communicate with their parents, parents have less impact on their decision making, instead,

In article Early friendships profoundly affects child's development, Dr. Paul Schwartz stated that:

Friendships now become the testing grounds for new values and behaviors. Close friends help the adolescent work out his or her identity. In order to accept this identity formation, the adolescent must feel accepted and liked by others. Additionally, the "status" of friends during adolescence provides a sense of reflective - self-esteem. Being in the "popular" groups in adolescence elevates self-esteem into young adult life. (Schwartz)

This explains how peers can influence one’s development of identity, they build an environment or setting that makes one feel comfortable and fit in. Dr. Paul Schwartz stated that “ In order to accept this identity formation, the adolescent must feel accepted and liked by others,” teenagers tend to develop and build up their identity when they feel approved, which is exactly what peers provide. Peers provide youth with social support when one faces challenges of adolescence. In article The Myth of Peer Pressure, Ungar characterize peer groups in a positive aspect. He closed his article by stating the