The Search For Identity In Adolescence
Adolescence is characterized by being a period reserved for reflection on oneself. The adolescent wonders who he is and what he can do in life. Undoubtedly, the search for identity in adolescence is one of the most important tasks of the life cycle, and it is the main one during this specific period.
Identity in adolescence, a stage of changes
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the life span from 10 to 19 years; in which a series of biological and psychic changes originate that culminate in the passage from childhood to adulthood. In other words, it is a transitional stage: the individual is no longer a child, but neither is he an adult.
For its part, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) understands that adolescence is a complex stage and that it can, in turn, be subdivided into early and late adolescence.
In early childhood, from 10 to 14 years old, the most striking changes would take place, the biological ones; while in the late, from 15 to 19, the capacity for analytical and reflective thinking is developed. However, it is in this last period that the consumption of alcohol and drugs arises most frequently.
Adolescence is a sociocultural fact
The anthropological and psychological currents and, in general, the social sciences, consider that adolescence is not a universal fact (unlike what is called puberty). Adolescence is a young concept that has been formed as a result of the prolongation of the coexistence of children and parents.
Due to the importance that has been given to the education and training of the individual, family life is prolonged and, with it, economic and personal independence has been delayed.
However, this does not happen in all cultures. In some parts of the world, many children have to start work at an early age. In this way, they directly access what is the world of adults, without the option of enjoying adolescence.
The search for identity in adolescence as a vital task
According to Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, according to which the personality would develop in stages, adolescence corresponds to the conformation of identity. Erikson called this stage “search for identity vs. role dispersion ”, and coincides with the crisis of adolescence.
The main task of adolescence is for the adolescent to acquire a commitment to the identity of the self and, consequently, an increase in confidence in their self-concept. The adolescent needs to confirm that the way he sees himself has continuity with the past and that, in addition, it fits with the perception that others have of him.
However, if the adolescent does not achieve this, they may find themselves on the other side of the scale and suffer role dispersion. During adolescence, this internal struggle of not really knowing who we are and of not knowing if what we think we are fits with the opinion of others, can cause severe anxiety disorders.
Influential factors in the search for identity in adolescence
Of course, the search for identity is influenced by various factors:
- The cognitive development achieved by the adolescent.
- Parental educational styles.
- The sociocultural context.
For his part, the psychologist James Marcia, in his theory of identity states, defined four levels in the conformation of identity according to the presence or absence of commitment or crisis:
- Achievement of identity. Despite the crisis he has suffered to find his identity, he finally expresses a commitment to the decisions he has made, confirming that identity.
- Exclusion. He is committed to his personal identity, but has not suffered difficulties (that is, crisis), since he has built this identity through the choices of others.
- Identity confusion. There is no commitment, that is, the adolescent does not find or accept an identity, and does not set goals, so there is no crisis either.
- Moratorium. He has not yet found a compromise, despite the crisis he is suffering, although he is focused on solving it.
The involvement of parents in the search for identity in adolescence
Frequently, literature and cinema have shown us the eternal rivalry of the adolescent with his parents, the reasons for the revelation being the excess of limits or, even, the possible repression of his way of being.
However, from the social sciences it is believed that parents can play a very favorable role when shaping the identity of the adolescent. For example, the fact that parents accept the questions that their adolescent children ask them and are flexible in the face of the changes they experience, can facilitate this transition stage.
The conformation of identity: key to social adaptation
According to Shaffer, establishing a personal identity is essential for personality development and, ultimately, for learning adaptive behaviors. Therefore, those adolescents who acquire a personal identity will adapt better to social situations, develop self-confidence, relate better and have fewer behavioral problems.
For adolescents, deciding which studies and profession to choose and, finally, which path to follow in life, undoubtedly generates great uncertainty. Ultimately, the choices and decisions we make shape the way we are perceived. And, our identity is consolidated not only through our self-concept, but also by how others see us.
Therefore, adolescents must know how to know themselves and, thus, discover what they like, their interests, their desires, their way of being in the world to, ultimately, shape their identity.
