Emerging Adults Theory and Identity Development Diane J. Wolter, Ph.D. NACADA Region 6 May 3, 2013

Identity Development Outline  Identity development theories  Emerging Adults  Examples from study  Meg Jay’s “Defining Decade”  Discussion

Chickering and Reisser Vectors  Developing competence  Managing emotions  Moving through autonomy toward interdependence

Chickering and Reisser Vectors (continued)  Developing mature interpersonal relationships  Establishing identity  Developing purpose  Developing integrity

Chickering and Reisser Developing competence  intellectual competence  physical and manual skills  interpersonal competence Managing emotions  the ability to recognize and accept emotions, and to appropriately express and control them

Chickering and Reisser Moving through autonomy toward interdependence  This vector is characterized by increased emotional independence Developing mature interpersonal relationships  Developing intercultural and interpersonal tolerance as well as an appreciation of differences

Chickering and Reisser Developing purpose  Includes establishing clear vocational goals, making commitments to specific personal interests and activities as well as interpersonal commitments Developing integrity  Includes three sequential but overlapping stages: humanizing values, personalizing values, and developing congruence

Chickering and Reisser Establishing identity  Builds on each of the tasks accomplished in the other vectors

Marcia Foreclosure  Students commit to an identity without exploring their options Identity diffusion  Students have not explored, have certainly not committed, and may have little interest in exploring or making decisions about their lives

Marcia Moratorium  Students are actively exploring alternatives, although they have not made a commitment Identity achievement  Have overcome their identity crises, explored alternatives in moratorium, and made commitments to identity

Emerging Adults Five “features”  The age of instability  The most self-focused age  The age of feeling in-between  The age of possibilities  The age of identity exploration

Description of Study Purpose Participants Methodology Data analysis

Subjects Ruth—chiropractic  Her own experience with chiropracter made her choose that path Pam—physical therapy, has already chosen PT program, next six years planned out  Dancer, needed physical therapy

Subjects Kayla—dentistry  Always loved going to the dentist Kelsey—paleontology  “You know how you love dinosaurs when you’re a kid? I never grew out of it!”

Subjects Abbi—baby doctor  Likes babies, doctors make good money

Career Development Cycle  Engage  Understand  Explore  Evaluate  Act  Reflect

Career Development Cycle

Meg Jay “The Defining Decade”  Your twenties are a time for exploring  Don’t get “serious” about life until 30

Discussion