Adolescence Identity vs.

Role Confusion
Age Range
The approximate age range for the adolescence identity vs. role confusion is from 13-19.
Crisis or Conflict
During identity crisis, in the adolescence identity vs. role confusion stage, a teen is trying to
determine who they are through self exploration. Theorist, Erik Erikson, believes that
identity crisis is one of the most conflicting stages of development.
Description
One major question in the adolescence identity vs role confusion is "Who am I?". This is the
stage where the teen needs to develop a sense of self and personal identity. During the
adolescence stage, children explore independence and develop a sense of themselves.
Throughout this stage they test out different roles, activities, and behaviors. Famous
psychologist, Erik Erikson believed he was stuck in this stage. This stage is where one
develops their social status-social relationships.
Positive Outcome
One positive outcome of going through this stage is that the person can have a good sense
of them self and be very strong and independent. When coming out of the adolescence
identity vs. role confusion stage one is able to grow into the sixth stage which is young
adulthood intimacy vs. isolation.
Negative Outcome
Significant Relationships
Personal Experience
However, some people who come out of this stage are unsure of what they believe in and
what they desire. They are not quite sure who they are and don't know what they want in
the future. If one were to get stuck in this stage, they could have social, educational, and
developmental problems. One example is people may experience depression and social
anxiety.
In order to successfully develop in this stage one must be properly encouraged by parents
but most importantly their peers. For example, when a teen girl is in the adolescence
identity vs. role confusion stage she tends to become much closer with her mother and looks
to her for guidance and answers.
For example, we are all in the adolescence identity vs. role confusion stage right now as we
make our life decisions. Some of us are deciding whether we should go to college or work
out of high school. For those of us going to college, we have to make the decision of what we
want to do for the rest of our lives. For those going into work, they must focus on what job
they want to pursue.
( Adolescents in the midst of the identity versus role confusion stage may experiment with
various clothing or hair styles, religion, gender identity, values, or other identifying
characteristics. They may appear particularly to their parents to be completely different
people weekly or even daily.)
Chaya is 15, and lately she's been driving her parents a little crazy. She used to be a very
obedient daughter. She dressed appropriately, got good grades and generally did what her
parents expected her to do. All in all, she was a good girl.

But recently, things have changed. She's started dressing differently, and she dyed her hair
blue. She isn't listening to her parents as much anymore. Just last week, she told her mom
that she wasn't going to become a doctor, like her parents want. In fact, she said that she
might not even go to college!

Chaya is in adolescence, or the period of life between childhood and adulthood. This is
usually seen as being between ages 12 and 20. Like Chaya, many adolescents begin to
change and rebel. They explore new ideas about themselves and their place in the world.
Psychologist Erik Erikson said that this exploration is part of a psychosocial crisis, or a
developmental period when a person has to resolve a conflict in his or her own life.

Let's look closer at the psychosocial crisis that is common in adolescence, identity versus
role confusion, and what happens when an adolescent resolves that conflict.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Remember Chaya? She's rebelling against her parents, changing before their very eyes.
She's resisting their expectations of her and trying out new and different aspects of herself.

Chaya is displaying the adolescent psychosocial crisis that will either lead her to identity, or
knowing who she is and what she believes, or to role confusion, or not being sure of who
she is or what she believes. Remember that this is called a psychosocial crisis, or sometimes
a psychosocial conflict. In fact, a key part of adolescence is exploring the two parts of the
word 'psychosocial.'

Think about it like this: Chaya is exploring and experimenting with different aspects of
herself. She is dressing differently, dying her hair, making up her own mind about college
and other aspects of her life. These are all part of her inner self: her psychology, which is the
first part of psychosocial.

On the other hand, her parents and the rest of society expect certain things from her. They
expect her to dress and act like a girl. They expect her to behave and have her hair a certain
way. They pressure her to do certain things and be certain things. Society is the second part
of psychosocial, and it's all about external forces.

In adolescence, many people find that the tension between the internal forces of the self and
the external forces of society is particularly high. Just like Chaya, adolescents begin to
explore different roles, or ideas about themselves. They may change their behavior or
physical looks. They might change their minds about what they want to do with their lives.
They are experimenting with who they are and what that means.
If Chaya's parents and friends are supportive of her and allow some amount of
experimentation with roles, Chaya will likely end up with a cohesive, full identity that
expresses who she is.

But what if her parents and friends are not supportive of her? What if Chaya lives in a
society that denies her the ability to experiment with roles and explore who she is as an
individual? Well, then Chaya will likely end up in role confusion. She might not feel like she
knows who she is deep down, or she might go through life constantly playing the part that
her parents or friends want her to play.
Identity versus confusion is the fifth stage of ego psychologist Erik Erikson'stheory
of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during adolescence between the ages of
approximately 12 and 18. During this stage, adolescents explore their independence and
develop a sense of self.

According to Erikson, people progress through a series of stages as they grow and change
throughout life. During each stage, people face a developmental conflict that must be
resolved to successfully develop the primary virtue of that stage.

He was interested in how social interaction and relationships affect development and
growth.

One of the main elements of Erikson's psychosocial stage theory is the development of ego
identity. Ego identity is the conscious sense of self that we develop through social
interaction, which is constantly changing due to new experiences and information we
acquire in our daily interactions with others.

During the identity versus confusions stage, this conflict is centered on developing a
personal identity. Successfully completing this stage leads to a strong sense of self that will
remain throughout life.

A Closer Look at the Identity versus Confusion Stage

Psychosocial Conflict: Identity Versus Confusion

Major Question: "Who am I?"

Basic Virtue: Fidelity

Important Event(s): Social Relationships

As they transition from childhood to adulthood, teens may begin to feel confused or insecure
about themselves and how they fit into society.

As they seek to establish a sense of self, teens may experiment with different roles,
activities, and behaviors. According to Erikson, this is important to the process of forming a
strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life.
Physical changes

For girls, you might start to see early physical changes from about 10-11 years but this
can be seen as young as 8, or as old as 13. Physical changes around puberty include breast
development, changes in body shape and height, growth of pubic and body hair, and the
start of periods (menstruation).

For boys, physical changes usually start around 11-12 years but this can be seen as young
as 9, or as old as 14. Physical changes include growth of the penis and testes (testicles),
height increase, change in body shape, erections with ejaculation, growth of body and facial
hair, and changes to voice.

Emotional changes

You might notice that your child shows strong feelings and intense emotions at different
times. His moods might seem unpredictable, and these emotional ups and downs can lead
to increased conflict. This is partly because your childs brain is still learning how to control
and express emotions in a grown-up way.

Young people get better at reading and processing other peoples emotions as they get
older. This means your child might be more sensitive to your emotions. But while shes
developing these skills, your child can sometimes misread facial expressions or body
language.

Your childs likely to be more self-conscious, especially about his physical appearance and
changes. Adolescent self-esteem is often affected by appearance, or by how teenagers think
they look. As your child develops, he might compare his body with those of his friends and
peers.

And your child could go through a bulletproof stage of thinking and acting. Your childs
decision-making skills are still developing, and shes still learning about the consequences of
her actions.

Social changes

Young people are busy working out who they are and where they fit into the world. So you
might notice that your child is searching for identity. This search can be influenced by
gender, peer group, cultural background and family expectations.

Seeking more independence is common. This is likely to influence the decisions your
child makes and the relationships your child has with family and friends. Your child might
want more responsibility too, both at home and at school.
The nature of teenage brain development means that teenagers are likely to seek out new
experiences and engage in more risk-taking behaviour. At the same time, your child is still
developing control over her impulses.

On the upside, your childs likely to be thinking more about right and wrong. Hell
start developing a stronger individual set of values and morals. Hell question more things.
Your words and actions shape your childs sense of right and wrong.

Youll probably find your child is influenced more by friends, especially when it comes to
behaviour, sense of self and self-esteem.

She might also be starting to develop and explore a sexual identity. This might
include romantic relationships, or going out with someone special. These arent necessarily
intimate relationships, though for some young people, intimate or sexual relationships
dont happen until later on in life.

The internet, mobile phones and social media can significantly influence how your child
communicates with his peers and how he learns about the world.

Changes in relationships

Your childs relationships with family and peers will undergo dramatic changes and shifts.
But maintaining strong relationships with both family and friends is vital for healthy
social and emotional development.

You might notice that your child wants to spend less time with her family and more
time with her friends and peers. If you find this hard, it might help to know that friends are
more likely to influence your childs short-term choices, such as appearance and interests.
Your influence is important on your childs long-term decisions, such as career choices,
values and morals.

There might be more arguments with you. Some conflict between parents and their
children during the teenage years is normal, because children are seeking more
independence. It actually shows that your child is maturing. Conflict tends to peak in early
adolescence. Even if you feel like youre arguing with your child all the time, it isnt likely to
affect your relationship with him in the longer term.

And it might seem like your child sees things differently from you now. This isnt
because she wants to upset you its because shes beginning to think more abstractly, and
is questioning different points of view. At the same time, some teenagers find it difficult to
understand the effects of their behaviour and comments on other people. These skills will
develop with time.

Through all of this, a strong relationship with you is an important foundation for
building your childs resilience.

Social Development During the Teen Years

Adolescence is the period of developmental transition between childhood and adulthood. It

involves changes in personality, as well as in physical, intellectual and social development.
During this time of change, teens are faced with many issues and decisions. The following
addresses some of the key issues that can have an impact on a teen's social development.

Self-esteem

Peer pressure

Tobacco, drugs and alcohol

Teens and sex

Tattoos and piercing

Depression and suicide