WHAT IS IDENTITY?

Identity
Adolescence is the period of life between the onset of puberty and the full commitment to an adult
social role. It is the period known for the formation of personal and social identity.

Adolescent Identity Exploration

 Adolescence is the period of life between the onset of puberty and the full commitment to an
adult social role. This period of life is known for the formation of personal and social identity
 Different roles, behaviors, and ideologies must be tried out to select an identity. Role confusion
and inability to choose vocation can result from a failure to achieve a sense of identity.

Egocentrism in adolescents is a self-conscious desire to feel important in peer groups and receive social
acceptance.
Since choices made during adolescence can influence later life, high levels of self-awareness and self-
control in mid-adolescence will lead to better decisions during the transition to adulthood.
Three general approaches to understanding identity development include self concept, sense of
identity, and self-esteem.

Self-Concept
 Early in adolescence, cognitive developments result in greater self-awareness. This leads to greater
awareness of others, and their thoughts and judgments. Adolescents also develop the ability to
think about abstract, future possibilities and the ability to consider multiple possibilities at once.
 Adolescents can conceptualize multiple 'possible selves' they could become as well as long-term
possibilities and consequences of their choices. Differentiation occurs as an adolescent recognizes
and distinguishes the contextual influences on his/her own behavior and the perceptions of
others.
 The recognition of inconsistent content in the self-concept is a common source of distress in these
years, but this distress may benefit adolescents by encouraging further structural development.

Sense of Identity
 Unlike the conflicting aspects of self-concept, identity represents a coherent sense of self that is
stable across circumstances and includes past experiences and future goals.
 Erik Erikson determined that 'identity achievement' resolved the identity crisis in which
adolescents must explore different possibilities and integrate different parts of themselves before
committing to their chosen identity. Adolescents begin by defining themselves based on their
crowd membership, and then hone in on a personal identity.

Self Esteem
 Self-esteem is one's thoughts and feelings about one's self-concept and identity. Children who are
raised female are often taught that their sense of self is highly linked to their relationships with
others; therefore many adolescent girls enjoy high self-esteem when engaged in supportive
relationships with friends.
The most important function of friendship here is having someone who can provide social and
moral support.