1) The document discusses identity crisis and how presenting information that challenges or differs from someone's identity can lead to resistance, especially in adolescents who are undergoing identity development.
2) Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to identity confusion and may reject information from parents as a defense mechanism to protect their fragile sense of self.
3) The degree of defensiveness someone exhibits provides a measure of how insecure they feel about their identity regarding a given subject. Therefore, open-ended questions that allow the other person to guide the conversation are most effective approach, along with validations.
Original Description:
"WHOOOO R U?" said the hookah-smoking caterpillar blowing smoke rings
1) The document discusses identity crisis and how presenting information that challenges or differs from someone's identity can lead to resistance, especially in adolescents who are undergoing identity development.
2) Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to identity confusion and may reject information from parents as a defense mechanism to protect their fragile sense of self.
3) The degree of defensiveness someone exhibits provides a measure of how insecure they feel about their identity regarding a given subject. Therefore, open-ended questions that allow the other person to guide the conversation are most effective approach, along with validations.
1) The document discusses identity crisis and how presenting information that challenges or differs from someone's identity can lead to resistance, especially in adolescents who are undergoing identity development.
2) Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to identity confusion and may reject information from parents as a defense mechanism to protect their fragile sense of self.
3) The degree of defensiveness someone exhibits provides a measure of how insecure they feel about their identity regarding a given subject. Therefore, open-ended questions that allow the other person to guide the conversation are most effective approach, along with validations.
(discussion paper) by Daniel Keeran, MSW www.ctihalifax.com
My interest in identity crisis is based on my attempts to convince others. If the subject is
different than or a challenge to the identity of one I am trying to convince, resistance to my information can be predicted. The adolescent person is vulnerable due to identity confusion or lability as a normal stage of development previously identified by Erik Erikson. For this reason, the adolescent may reject parental information as a defence against the fear of losing a fragile and developing sense of self or identity. The degree of defensiveness may be a measure of how insecure the person feels about a subject. For this reason, conversation especially with adolescents, is most effective as invitations to talk or reflections of thoughts and feelings, sprinkled with validations, so that the content is directed by the adolescent person. Here is an example: 1. Parent: Hey, what’s happening? 2. Teen: Not much. 3. Parent: Mind if I ask a philosophical question? 4. Teen: Sure. I don’t care. 5. Parent: What’s the most important thing you can do with your life? 6. Teen: I don’t know. Love I guess. 7. Parent: Great answer. What is love? As identity becomes more fully formed, the resistance to perceived opposing or different information, will become stronger as a normal development. A dependent personality can be identified as one whose need for approval is greater than the need for identity which renders the person vulnerable to influence.