1. IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENTS

2. Erik Erikson (I know, right?) His best work was in the 1960s Like Piaget, was a developmental psychologist Like Piaget, he was very stages oriented.

3. Erik Erikson (I know, right?) Focused on the adolescent’s struggles with developing his/her individual identity Used a variety of definitions to explain “identity” “Identity” a complex concept, but is essentially the answer to who you feel you are, esp. in comparison to others.

4. Adolescence in Erikson’s words “Like a trapeze artist, the young person in the middle of vigorous motion must let go of his safe hold of childhood and reach out for a firm grasp on adulthood, depending for a breathless interval on a relatedness between the past and future, and on the reliability of those he must let go of, and those who will “receive” him.” (1964)

5. Identity Identity Crisis: Period in which adolescents struggle to define their personal understanding of who they are. Erikson claims you are searching for/developing your identity but do not have one at this time. Your development of your personal identity is your ticket out of adolescence.

6. Identity James Marcia says we shift through four different statuses in our quest to develop our identity (Note: These do not need to be in order) Identity Moratorium: exploring various identity options, but no commitment Ex. The freshman who joins German club, marching band, Key club, honors courses, and the Ultimate club (but doesn’t really invest much time in any one of them) Identity Foreclosure: conforming to the identity others set for you Ex. Going to Miami U. because the rest of your family did too

7. Identity (Identity Statuses continued) Identity Diffusion: “drifting” without any real goal, plan, etc. Ex. Your older brother who moved back into your parents’ place, doesn’t bother going out to look for a job Identity Achievement: actively exploring a few options but committing to them. Forging your own identity Ex. After weighing the options, you decide to go to Akron U. to study Early Childhood Education and be the first teacher in the family

8. Mead’s Rebuttal Margaret Mead studied native Samoan society Adolescence is not a major transition period Natural development is much smoother Societal expectations make adolescence rocky.