Identity forming in adolescents Essay

We whitethorn understand this age group if we look at its place on the growth sequence of Erik Erikson. Notice how it is right near to the adult tier, the last step before being an adult. This is a condemnation for adolescents to decide rough their future line of work and think nearly starting their own families in a few years. One of the freshman things they moldiness do is to start making their own decisions. For example, adolescents arse begin to decide what to buy with their own m unrivaledy or who will be their friend. To do this they must put a little distance between themselves and their p arnts.This does non mean that p atomic number 18nts dopenot continue to look after them or military service them when strikeed. P atomic number 18nts should, as much as possible, let them learn from the results of their actions. Adolescents also need to be around other adults, both male and female. These can be relatives, neighbors, or teachers. Of course, they should be positive map models. Teenagers can learn from them close things like how to fix the car, getting a large with others, or stems for future jobs. Finally, adolescents necessity to spend clock duration alone. They might be planning the things they can do or will buy when they grow up. identity operator forming whitethorn be an emotional turbulent phase of life in adolescents, due in part to the physical and mental changes they are experiencing. Adolescence is a distributor point, which is associated with considerable changes in self. Erik Erikson (1968) recognized adolescence as a major life tip for individualism formation, and individual flummoxment within a social context. He argued that adolescents must receive community acceptance for their behavior. Erikson also spoke of the role of intergenerational culture where society must provide for a mutual trustworthiness to variantiate self-chosen values and interests.Achieving a sense of identity operator is a fundamental job for adolescents. The clear sense of personal identity constitutes an aspect of optimal psychological functioning (Erikson, 1968). Adolescents face a range of developmental issues. Havighurst (1952) suggested that two see(prenominal) demesnes included work and relationships. Levinson (1978) foc functiond on changing relationships and on exploration, spot Erikson (1968) commented on intimacy and commitment to goals. Super (1963) indicated that exploring and crystallizing vocational prime(prenominal) are important to older adolescents and offspring adults.What faces evident is that older adolescents and unseasoned adults enter transitions with the goal of becoming independently functioning adults, as they progress to to meet evolving personal and career related needs. Rapid and escalating changes in crunch market and post-secondary educational opportunities mean that adolescents now are confronted with the challenge of get together their personal and career needs when neither ca n offer inference or a sense of personal control. harmonize to Erikson, there are eight peaks of human development.Each of the stage focuses on a different conflict that needs to be solved in order to develop successfully into the next stages of life. The idea is that if one stage is not resolved, one might ca-ca a encumbrance to deal with the succeeding stages and the mischance will come back at virtually point later on in life. Puberty marks the beginning of stage five, identity versus role confusion. This stage occurs between ages twelve to eighteen. Erikson defined this stage as the time when adolescents develop a sense of self. They track down to question who they are and what they hope to do with their lives.They will associate all of their experiences and differentiate their various roles up until that moment dependent kidskin, autonomy, initiative and achievement into a secure individuality. If on the fence(p) past crises have followed them into stage five, the y will experience identity as role confusion. In other words, they will have no idea of who they are or what they would like to be. Peter Pan, the fairytale story of the childish individual who refused to grow up, is a perfect example of this role confusion. These individuals are constantly searching to fill their emotional needs through relationships with others. well(p) as Peter Pan looked to Wendy for affection and nurturance, these individuals do the identical because they neediness self-soothing skills. This is what we sometimes call low emotional quotients. They often have very low self-confidence and they fear exploring new things and meeting new people. entirely of the childs experiences were carried up to this transitional stage. The attachment and bonding that the sister learned in infancy during stage one provides security that is necessitate in this stage to be able to relate to the opposite sex.The competency to set boundaries and say no from stage two provides the structure necessary to establish sexual boundaries. The sexual exploration experienced by the child during stage three and the reaction of parents will answer determine a positive or negative self-perception regarding the body as good or bad. Stage four taught the youngster social and educational skills in bod school which will now determine the attitude towards future academic education and the social path to follow. Any of the previous tasks that were difficult to master will now affect the transition into adolescence.Since this is an awkward time of life, comrade approval becomes even more(prenominal) important because it rests on the childs entire self-esteem when being judged by others. Physical development occurs during this power point when males experience voice changes, acne, and baby fat. Girls experience emotional difficulties and are nearly conscious of their body reckon. It is during this time that girls will develop eating disorders because they tend to be so critical of their bodies. This period is very similar to stage two when the young child learned how to say no.Rebelling is a large part of the adolescents life at this time when feelings of insecurity surface. During stage five puppy love occurs and everyone talks close to who is dating whom. If the adolescent has had difficulty with trust and self-esteem issues prior to this stage, he may feel too shy to go steady and may isolate from others. This a time when adolescents have difficulty coping with ordinary problems. If earlier tasks were successfully mastered then there will be little difficulty in coping with new problems that will arise. look Pressure During adolescence, it is more likely that an individual has trouble in deciding what to do with his life and what to do to fit in and be considered cool down. One may act and think as if an adult tho is not sincerely considered as one in a real adults world. They will try so hard to illuminate themselves and be considered different from children but will someway have difficulty proving it to people. Peer pinchure comes in when an adolescent tries so hard to do what others do to establish him feel like he belongs to a indisputable group.The feeling of belongingness is very important to an adolescent during this stage as it somehow gives him an identity derived from the group where he belongs. This identity may be elite group, intelligent, rebel, notorious, cool, popular and so on. The image an adolescent exudes is as important as if that is what only matters. One may do things upon urging and taunting of his peers. Peer pressure may get one to do irrational things just to be able to be accepted by his colleagues. One episode of Nip Tuck about Matt circumcising himself when his surgeon father would not do it is an example of this.another(prenominal) example is the latest craze among youths in sec Korea. Since image and mien plays a very important part in an adolescents life, one may go to ext remes such as plastic surgery. Having larger eyes is every girls dream in South Korea. Teenagers as young as 14 are doing it, and eye jobs have become a favorite high school graduation render from proud parents (Ko 2002). Substance iniquity Puberty is the most critical stage in ones life. This is the stage where adolescents sometimes withdraw from the family and sport to substance abuse to avoid the pain that accompanies the stress and anxiety that they experience.According to the Adolescent substance abuse knowledge base (1999) The primary factors that seem to affect increased or decreased drug use among teens are perceived risk, perceived social approval, and perceived handiness. The more risky or slight accepted a drug is thought to be the less likely it will be used by teens. Perceived availability is often associated with overall social approval, and so, a drug that is readily acquirable is considered socially acceptable and will likely increase in use. maculation these seem like common sense factors, how these perceptions are created is harder to understand.Parents may not realize just how easy it is for youths to get illicit drugs. They may not realize how young children are when they begin to experiment with alcoholic drinkic drink and drugs. Statistics can alert parents to the need to communicate with their children about the dangers of substance abuse and help them develop strategies to cope with peer pressure. In the 2000 National Household fall out on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), approximately 13 portion of youths elderly 12 to 17 reported past calendar month use of cigarettes, and more than 4 percent reported take daily during the past month of the same year.This is equivalent to approximately 3 million past month smokers, including almost 1 million daily smokers among youths. Approximately 16 percent of youths had used alcohol within the past month, including 10 percent describe binge use had five or more drinks on the same spring on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Three percent reporting heavy alcohol use had five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of five or more days in the past 30 days. The proportion translates to almost 4 million past month alcohol users, including almost 2.5 million binge alcohol users, and 0. 6 million heavy alcohol users among youths. Media Influences There are so many television commercials nowadays showing an underage TV reference work commenting about drinking beer, using preventives, picking out cigarette brands and so on. Most of the parents change the channel when a character joked about smoking a joint or having a one-night stand when their child is around. Television, music, and advertisements spring children and youth with messages that may go against what that they have heard at billet and school.Some messages teach children that alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs are dangerous other messages make drugs and alcohol look cool and make you fit in in the society. Of the many factors influencing adolescents to begin, or not to begin smoking, drinking, and having sexual intercourse, a prominent and likely one is information conveyed via mass media. Despite restrictions on some mass media advertising for tobacco products or alcoholic beverages, even condom brands, young audiences still encounter substantial media content related to those across virtually all media channels.Society and social scientists alike have long assumed that there are direct effects, perhaps powerful effects, of media messages on individuals. Lay people and researchers make this assumption because it is intuitively reasonable cogent media messages surely influence youth. One thing that parents can do is to use messages from the media TV, music, and ads to talk with their children about tough issues like alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Talking during commercials can help promote a positive relationship between parents and their children.In many ways, these moment s may be more effective than long, planned discussions when these young adults are likely to tune out. The medias influence on everyone, particularly on adolescents, is great. However, when properly guided by the parents, this particularly difficult stage of forming identity among youths may be lessened, as they understand how things are seen in the adult world and in another perspective other than theirs. ending Developmentally, the young people were trying to meet personal and emotional needs, plot of ground in a state of flux and uncertainty in identity forming.It was apparent that a lack of progress in one area could have a negative influence on the other areas. maternal(p) guidance, understanding and nurturing is of utmost importance on this most critical stage of a persons life. In general, Ericksons Theory of humankind Development is widely accepted and plays a major role in all human and psychological development studies and theories. The best advice is to use the gues s as a framework or map for understanding and identifying what issues or conflicts unresolved lead to current behavior and preparing for the stages to come.References Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base. (1999). Retrieved on November 29, 2006 from http//www. adolescent-substance-abuse. com/. Erikson, Erik. (2001). Microsoft Encarta encyclopaedia. Personal Identity. (2001). Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. Erikson, Erik H. (1963). Childhood and Society (2nd ed. ) New York Norton. Erikson, Erik. H. (1968). Identity youth and crisis. New York W. W. Norton. Havighurst, R. J. (1952). Developmental tasks and education. New York David McKay. Health and Human Services. (2001). HHS reputation Shows Drug Use Rates Stable, Youth Tobacco Use Declines. coupled States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on December 1, 2006 from http//www. hhs. gov/news/press/2001pres/20011004a. html. Ko, Chisu (2002). Peer Pressure Plastics. TIME Asia magazine. Retrieved on November 29, 20 06 from http//www. time. com/time/asia/magazine/ expression/0,13673,501020805-332098,00. html Levinson, D. (1978). The seasons of a mans life. New York Ballantine. Meyer, William J. (2001). Developmental Psychology. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Super, D. E. (1963). Career development Essays in vocational development. New York College Entrance examen Board.