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HHG4M - Lifespan Development Textbook Lesson On Identity

The document discusses Erik Erikson's theory of identity development during adolescence. It covers the key stages of identity versus identity confusion and experimenting with roles/identities. It also summarizes James Marcia's four identity statuses based on commitment and crisis experience. The development of identity is influenced by parenting styles, ethnic and cultural factors, and is an ongoing process through adolescence and young adulthood.

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Lubomira Suchecki
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124 views

HHG4M - Lifespan Development Textbook Lesson On Identity

The document discusses Erik Erikson's theory of identity development during adolescence. It covers the key stages of identity versus identity confusion and experimenting with roles/identities. It also summarizes James Marcia's four identity statuses based on commitment and crisis experience. The development of identity is influenced by parenting styles, ethnic and cultural factors, and is an ongoing process through adolescence and young adulthood.

Uploaded by

Lubomira Suchecki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Identity

• Erikson termed the period of adolescence a


psychological moratorium, a gap between the security of
childhood and autonomy of adulthood.
• His fifth stage of development is characterized by the
dilemma of identity versus identity confusion.
• Adolescents experiment with the numerous roles and
identities they draw from the surrounding culture.
• Either they successfully cope with conflicting identities or
they don’t resolve their identity crisis.
Some Contemporary Thoughts
about Identity
• Identity
development is a
lengthy process.
• Identity
development is
extraordinarily
complex.
Identity Statuses and Development
• James Marcia concluded that four identity
statuses, or modes of resolution, appear in
Erikson’s theory.
• The extent of an adolescent’s commitment
and crisis is used to classify him or her
according to one of the four statuses.
Crisis and Commitment
• Crisis – a period of identity development
during which the adolescent is choosing
among meaningful alternatives
• Commitment – the part of identity
development in which adolescents show a
personal investment in what they are
going to do
Marcia’s Identity Statuses
• Identity Diffusion
• Identity Foreclosure
• Identity Moratorium
• Identity Achievement
The Development of Identity
• Young adolescents are primarily in identity diffusion,
foreclosure, or moratorium status.
• Three fundamental aspects of young adolescents’
development with regard to identity formation are:
– confidence in parental support
– a sense of industry
– a self-reflective perspective on the future
• Some researchers believe the most important identity
changes take place during college.
Family Influences on Identity
• Authoritative parents, who encourage adolescents to
participate in family decision making, foster identity
achievement.
• Authoritarian parents, who control the adolescents’
behaviour, encourage identity foreclosure.
• Permissive parents, who provide little guidance to
adolescents and allow them to make their own decisions,
promote identity diffusion.
• The presence of a family atmosphere that promotes both
individuality and connectedness is important in
adolescents’ identity development.
Ethnic Identity
• Ethnic identity is an
enduring, basic aspect of
the self that includes a
sense of membership in
an ethnic group and the
attitudes and feelings
related to that
membership.
Cultural and Ethnic Aspects of
Identity
• Most ethnic minority individuals consciously confront
their ethnicity for the first time in adolescence.
• For adolescents from ethnic minority groups, the process
of identity formation has an added dimension due to
exposure to alternative sources of identification.
• Ethnic identity increases with age.
• Higher levels of ethnic identity are linked with more
positive attitudes towards both one’s own group and
members of other ethnic groups.
• Racism, discrimination, and bigotry were cited as factors
influencing their relationships with authority figures and
their ability to find employment.
Gender and Identity Development
• Erikson asserted that males’ aspirations were
mainly oriented towards career and ideological
commitments.
• He asserted that females’ aspirations were
centred around marriage and child bearing.
• Researchers in the 1960s and 1970s found
support for these gender differences.
• In the past 20 years, females have developed
stronger vocational interests and thus the
differences are turning into similarities.

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