The Youth, Frail and Confused: Apt to Identity Crisis
The Youth, Frail and Confused: Apt to Identity Crisis
Thesis Statement: The young, the frail and the confused are likely to experience identity crisis because they are vulnerable, easily discouraged, and they usually find it difficult to establish a personality or goal; and even if they succeeded to establish one, it is even more strenuous for them to commit to a certain identity.
Whenever people encounter the word “identity crisis,” it never fails to arouse feelings of mixed curiosity, mirth and discomfort. Some feel curious, because it is either they have not gone through this stage yet, or because they just have an undeniably excessive level of inquisitiveness and interest. Others feel mirth, for they know that have already overcome this challenge. On the contrary, most people feel discomfort palpably due to the very play of the word “crisis.” This is due to the fact that people have established the word’s connotation as an impending danger or catastrophe.
In identity crisis’ context, however, “crisis” is accepted as an essential turning point, a crucial moment wherein one must face a development in one way or another. Joined with the term “identity,” identity crisis is the time for an intensive analysis and exploration of a personal sense of continuity and uniqueness from other people. As identified by Erik Homburger Erikson, a famous psychologist, identity crisis serves as a formidable conflict in an individual’s psychosocial development. It is a necessary process to undergo though, if one aspires to become an “enlightened one” or a “self-actualized one” as Gautama Buddha and Abraham Maslow would suggest it.
This documented essay, however, will not be focusing on the aspiring self-actualized ones; instead, it will be specializing on the certain types of individual who manifest qualities that make them apt and prone to experience identity crisis.
Firstly, as Erik Erikson also pointed out, the young, particularly the adolescents are the most inclined to
Thesis Statement: The young, the frail and the confused are likely to experience identity crisis because they are vulnerable, easily discouraged, and they usually find it difficult to establish a personality or goal; and even if they succeeded to establish one, it is even more strenuous for them to commit to a certain identity.
Whenever people encounter the word “identity crisis,” it never fails to arouse feelings of mixed curiosity, mirth and discomfort. Some feel curious, because it is either they have not gone through this stage yet, or because they just have an undeniably excessive level of inquisitiveness and interest. Others feel mirth, for they know that have already overcome this challenge. On the contrary, most people feel discomfort palpably due to the very play of the word “crisis.” This is due to the fact that people have established the word’s connotation as an impending danger or catastrophe.
In identity crisis’ context, however, “crisis” is accepted as an essential turning point, a crucial moment wherein one must face a development in one way or another. Joined with the term “identity,” identity crisis is the time for an intensive analysis and exploration of a personal sense of continuity and uniqueness from other people. As identified by Erik Homburger Erikson, a famous psychologist, identity crisis serves as a formidable conflict in an individual’s psychosocial development. It is a necessary process to undergo though, if one aspires to become an “enlightened one” or a “self-actualized one” as Gautama Buddha and Abraham Maslow would suggest it.
This documented essay, however, will not be focusing on the aspiring self-actualized ones; instead, it will be specializing on the certain types of individual who manifest qualities that make them apt and prone to experience identity crisis.
Firstly, as Erik Erikson also pointed out, the young, particularly the adolescents are the most inclined to
Cited: Erikson, Erik. “Identity and the Life Cycle.” Selected papers. International University Press, 1902. Print. Erikson, Erik. “Identity, Youth and Crisis.” International Journal of Psychoanalysis. New York: Norton, 1968. Print. Erikson, Erik. “Reflections on the dissent of contemporary youth.” International Journal of Psychoanalysis. New York: Norton, 1970. Print. Erikson, Erik. “The Challenge of Youth.” Collections. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1965. Print. Marcia, James. “Development and validation of ego identity statuses.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. New York: Wiley, 1966. Print. Marcia, James. “Identity in adolescence.” Handbook of Adolescent Psychology. New York: Wiley. 1980. Print. Marcia, James. “Identity six years after: A follow-up study.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence. New York: Wiley. 1976. Print.