The Importance Of Identity Exploration And Development

Teenagers are actually the worst thing ever. Not only is this the point in life where they are able to freely explore without relying so heavily on their parents, it is a period of storm and stress (Koenig Lecture, 2015). Regardless of how hard it is to get through it, adolescence is a crucial point in life, and I find it interesting enough to share with you, I hope you find it interesting too. My Lifespan Development class has taught me that one does not simply move from an adolescent to an adult. Instead, emerging adulthood was created. This period of development extends from the late teens to the late twenties (Berk, 2013, 369). During this period of development, the adolescent is experiencing identity exploration and development. Typically, the adolescent is exploring all the things that they would want to do with themselves, before they settle down and commit to one specific thing. There are two types of identity exploration that were described in my Lifespan class, these are adaptive and maladaptive. Adaptive is where the adolescent is exploring and committing to a particular path. (Koenig Lecture, 2015) This then branches off into two
In countries such as Brazil, China, India and Mexico, only adolescents from wealthier families experience emerging adulthood. (Berk, 2013, p. 371) This is because their families are well off, and are able to support them financial. Those that have very few economic resources, or continue to live in the rural area where they grew up, do not experience emerging adulthood. (Berk, 2013, p. 371) I’m incredibly thankful for where I live, and where I come from. Those that are in industrialized nations — like the US — experience emerging adulthood because their families are also able to support them. Even if adolescents in industrialized countries did not go to college, they can still benefit from by going into the