Adolescent Identity, Self-Concept & Personality

Identity in Adolescence

• Identity becomes a central issue in adolescence due to physical changes linked to puberty, cognitive advancements enabling formal operations, and social transitions involving new roles and expectations.

Self-Concept

• Actual self refers to an adolescent's perception of who they currently are.
• Ideal self is an adolescent's vision of who they aspire to be.
• Feared self represents who an adolescent is afraid of becoming.

Personality in Adolescents

• The Big Five Personality Model (OCEAN) includes Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
• Personality traits show considerable stability over time, with roots in early temperament that solidify during adolescence.

Self-Esteem

• Self-esteem reflects an individual's overall sense of self-worth.
• Self-esteem tends to be fairly stable, but experiences the most fluctuation during early adolescence.
• Academic success and parental approval generally boost self-esteem.
• Peer acceptance can increase self-esteem. Overemphasis can lead to deviant behavior.

Egocentrism and Peers

• Adolescents may struggle to fully understand others’ beliefs/motives.
• Peers become increasingly important during this time.
• Self-esteem can vary across different gender, ethnic, and racial backgrounds.

Erik Erikson – Psychosocial Development

• Erik Erikson introduced the term "identity crisis."
• Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion occurs during adolescence.
• Achieving a clear sense of identity is critical for future well-being.

James Marcia – Identity Status Theory

• James Marcia's Identity Status Theory includes four identity statuses: Identity Achievement, Identity Foreclosure, Identity Moratorium, and Identity Diffusion.
• These statuses are based on exploration and commitment.
• Identity development often extends into emerging adulthood.

Cultural and Social Considerations

• Ethnic identity, the immigrant paradox, and gender roles are key elements in adolescent identity formation.
• Adolescents are able to explore identity because they have the time, cognitive ability, and social space to do so.

Autonomy vs. Independence

• Independence is the ability to act alone.
• Autonomy encompasses emotional, behavioral, and cognitive self-governance.

Why Autonomy is an Adolescent Issue

• Autonomy is an adolescent issue because of cognitive growth and social shifts.

Types of Autonomy

• Emotional autonomy involves separation from and de-idealization of parents and is usually a healthy, gradual process.
• Behavioral autonomy involves improved decision-making skills and legal and ethical maturity.
• Cognitive autonomy involves the development of personal beliefs and values, including moral, political, and religious views.

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

• Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development includes Preconventional, Conventional, and Postconventional stages.
• The stages are based on moral dilemmas and reasoning.
• The Preconventional stage focuses on obedience and punishment.
• The Conventional stage emphasizes social rules and laws.
• The Postconventional stage involves abstract principles and justice.
• The ability to view multiple perspectives is key to moral development.
• Prosocial behavior tends to increase with maturity.

Psychosocial Issues in Adolescence

• Few disorders are limited to adolescence, but many appear during this stage.
• Prevalence refers to how common a disorder is.
• Comorbidity refers to the co-occurrence of multiple disorders.

Substance Abuse

• "Just Say No" campaigns are ineffective methods of substance abuse prevention.
• Effective approaches focus on reducing access to substances.
• Common substances of abuse include alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana.
• The "gateway drug" label is controversial.
• Harder drugs are rare among teens.
• Early substance use can have severe consequences.
• Substance use patterns include experimentation and chronic use.
• Influences on substance use include risk and protective factors, and treatment strategies.

Externalizing Disorders

• Conduct Disorder involves persistent antisocial behavior that may develop into antisocial personality disorder.
• Externalizing disorders include aggression, delinquency, and authority violations (truancy, disobedience).
• Covert acts like lying and stealing, and overt acts like fighting and bullying are also externalizing disorders.
• Developmental trajectories of externalizing disorders have either an early or late onset.

Internalizing Disorders

• Depression is a clinical condition that is more common in females due to hormonal, cognitive, and social factors.
• Symptoms of depression include sadness, withdrawal, and irritability.
• Depression may lead to suicidal ideation or self-harm.
• Teen suicide rates are higher than many assume.
• The Diathesis-Stress Model explains that depression arises from a pre-existing predisposition (diathesis) triggered by stress.