PSYC 210CHAPTER 16 NOTESIdentity – Major Task of AdolescenceAll areas of development converge as adolescents confront their major task, the establishment of a unique mature identity. Whatever they do is related in some way to this over-riding task, whichbridges the transition from childhood to adulthood and challenges the past in the service of the future.Five common experiences may create significant struggles:1. Physical changes2. Social changes3. Religious/Spiritual changes: - Time of questioning childhood beliefs. - May become skeptical of religious forms and trappings. - May doubt the nature of God, but they are on a genuine spiritual quest.4. Sexual changes5. Cognitive changes:- Become more abstract and less concrete - Become more concerned with what is right and less concerned with what is wrong - Become more cognitive and less emotional - Become more willing to exert energy on moral and value issuesEric Erikson on IdentityErik Erikson coined the phrase "identity crisis." It is interesting that he learned later in his youth that he was adopted and had a difficult journey coming to terms with it. Could this have spurred his interest in identity?- Achieving a sense of identity is the major development task of teenagers. - Identity searching asks the major questions of life. Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? - Erikson felt that knowing who they are gives adolescents a sense of control that allows them to navigate through the rest of life. Page 1 of 2PSYC 210- Without identity, there is always the question, how am I doing? This leaves teens focusing on their concern about impressions they are making on others. They will be/do whatever they think others want. They may flounder around acting one way and then another. Page 2 of
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