Adolescence: transition between childhood and adulthood, is a product of both biological and social forces…
Psychosocial identity theory is based on how an individual’s identity is shaped by their own development and experiences combined with their social surroundings. Phoenix refers to E. Erikson (Phoenix, 2002), who wrote about eight stages of development whereby an individual’s identity is built over their lifetime. He suggests that most of the time we are unaware of this and is only when something in our life goes wrong or changes that we become more aware of whom we are and therefore what our identity is. This seems to be why Erikson focuses mainly on adolescence, as this is when people tend to explore different possible paths that lead to certain friendships and life choices, he describes this stage as ‘psychosocial moratorium’ that will eventually lead us to shape who we are as adults. Erikson refers to this achievement as ego identity (Phoenix, 2002), where an individual feels comfortable with whom they are. As with anything or anyone in a stage of development, it is not always a smooth transition from one stage to another and the individual can sometimes be delayed or stuck on one stage; in reference to identity Erikson describes this as an identity crisis. Phoenix also refers to Marcia (Phoenix, 2002) who looked at Erikson’s development stages, particularly adolescence and suggested that people often go through different phases of their…
I. a. b. Intro Academic summary: In “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood,” Leon Botstein argues that the “American high school is obsolete and should be abolished.” He explains that this obsolescence is because high school does not represent the way real life works, that real life is not a popularity contest dominated by the best athletes like the hierarchies that he claims exist among students and teachers in high schools.…
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychologicalhuman development generally occurring during the period from puberty to legal adulthood.…
The period of physical and psychological development from puberty to maturity is referred to as adolescence. It is at this point where individuals between the ages of 11 to 22 begin a distinct and unique stage of the life cycle. The transformation can be the most difficult stage in development that an individual will endure. According to our text, “Adolescence is characterized by significant physical change, increase hormone production, sexual maturation, improved cognitive functioning, formative identity development and increased independence.” (Hutchinson & Contributors, 2011). It is at this time when an individual forms their own sense of identity. Challenging and confusing is what comes to mind when I recall…
Adolescence, also known as "teenage years" is a time of dramatic change. This phase of life marks a developmental period that follows childhood and comes before adulthood. Adolescence is closely associated with puberty, which is also considered as a developmental milestone, particularly in the western countries. Puberty refers to the period of adolescence when a person becomes capable of reproduction (Carpenter, S. & Huffman, K., 2008). In this paper, I will discuss the various factors that affect the physical, cognitive, social, moral, and personality development of adolescents.…
The next stage of the life course is adolescence. This is the time where kids are in between childhood and adulthood. The preteen and teenage years comprise the stage of life when young people establish some independence and learn specialized skills required for adulthood (Macionis & Gerber, 2002). Adolescence is related with social and emotional confusion; young people have conflicts with their parents, and try to develop their own sense of identity. Adolescence is a product of culture. A study that was done in the 1920's by Margaret Mead on the Samoan Islands shows that there was little stress among teenagers; their children appeared to move easily into adult standing. Our society, however, defines childhood and adulthood more in opposing terms, making transition between the two stages of life more difficult (Macionis & Gerber, 2002). The experience of adolescence also varies according to social standing and background.…
The identity of an individual has unique differences depending on the association with his or her personal and social functioning in society, especially during the formation of identity in the adolescent years of development (Crocetti, Rubini,, Luyckx&, Meeus, 2008). The influences of personal identity development will illustrate through the time line of my life events from birth through adulthood.…
How is emerging adulthood considered to be a different stage of life from adolescence and early adulthood?…
There are many factors that affect the physical, cognitive, social, moral, and personality development in an adolescent. Adolescence, as defined in the Webster dictionary, is the transition period from childhood to adulthood. It is a period that can bring various and drastic physical, social, and emotional changes. Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty and extends to adulthood. This usually occurs during the ages between twelve and twenty years old. Puberty, as defined in the Webster dictionary, is the period during which the reproductive system matures. This is a process characterized by a marked increase in sex hormones.…
Teenage years can be a challenging time for many individuals. Beginning at the age of 11 through 20, adolescence is defined as a “transitional period in the human life span, linking childhood and adulthood” (Santrock 2009). At this point, the person is no longer a child, but not yet an adult. This makes it a very critical and sensitive time frame for identity formation.…
Based upon criteria that include finishing school, getting a job, avoiding trouble with the law, starting a family, and becoming self-sufficient, the transition of youth into adult roles and responsibilities between 18 and the mid 20s, “emerging adulthood,” has been lengthening (Arnett, 2004). In 1980 40% were married; today that fraction is cut in half. Reversing declines of the 1950s, the proportion of young men and women in their mid-20s living with their parents has increased; a quarter of white males age 25 lived at home in 2007 compared to one-fifth in 2000 and only about 13 percent in 1970 (Settersten and Ray, 2010). In the past, youth lived at home until they completed their schooling but post-secondary schooling is less and less likely for young men, who are falling behind their female counterparts. Access to good jobs for those…
What is identity? Identity is like a fingerprint, a unique identifier of who a person is. People create their own identities throughout their entire life. The development one goes through highly influences the person they become. They may strive to form morals, standards or views of the world. It can become a lifelong task in finding who one is, but the search for identity begins roughly during adolescence. Erik Erikson developed a theory based on psychosocial behaviors. He believed that a person’s identity arises from development beginning from infancy. The stages are all interdependent; success in each builds the needed foundation to be able to be successful…
Emerging adults cannot struggle to leave home and go to college, so by postponing their education, it often acts as a chain reaction causing them to get married at later times and giving them a longer period of time to explore their inner self. With a longer period for emerging adults to explore their personal qualities, it allows them to recognize all of the talents they do or do not have, which can push them into trouble when deciding what career they are ready to dedicate their life to. In various cultures, adolescents are considered adults once they are financially stable and ready to support a family. However, the economy in some countries does not allow for emerging adults to accomplish both of those challenges within a timely manner. A concept that better illustrates emerging adulthood is Vygotsky’s Cognitive Development theory. In his theory, emerging adults in college might struggle with the transition to being independent at school, which may affect their ability to discover who they are. Overall, emerging adults are taking longer to discover themselves which is causing them to achieve well-known milestones, such as school and marriage, later in life. Although this concept can be viewed negatively, these adults are doing their best adapting to the ever changing economy and the social aspects that are quickly advancing around…
As we grow older we discover new things about ourselves and how we identify ourselves, through the experiences we face in our lives. Our personality is like a house in the process of building, we draw the plan of who we aspire to be, we make alterations along the way but the bricks keep piling up. Identity formation is defined as the combination of personal, social and cultural experiences that combine to form an individual’s identity. Identity is not static; it is the result of continuous interaction with the environment. People in our lives such as friends, family, teachers and heroic figures affect the way we identify ourselves; they are a big factor in building our personality. Past experiences we go through can also have an impact on our identity, if we're growing; we're always going to be out of our comfort zone. Another aspect of how identity continues to change is our own nationality and religion, how we identify ourselves about a certain belief can change the way we view things and our interpretations towards certain events.…