Identity Formation and Social Development Flashcards

Flashcards testing core concepts of adolescent identity formation, psychological theories of self, self-esteem, peer dynamics, conformity, and juvenile delinquency.

What is widely considered to be one of the central tasks of adolescence?

The development of a strong and stable sense of self.

How is identity defined in the context of human development?

Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups.

What is the difference between self-identity and social identity?

Self-identity refers to how we define ourselves and forms the basis of self-esteem, whereas social identity is constructed by others according to broad, socially-defined labels.

What is self-concept?

Self-concept is the idea of self constructed from opinions and beliefs about one's self, defined confidently, consistently, and with stability.

How do self-descriptions shift from childhood to adolescence?

Children define themselves using simple, concrete physical traits, whereas adolescents define themselves based on values, thoughts, and opinions.

How do the 'ideal self' and 'feared self' influence adolescent behavior?

Adolescents try to guide their actual self toward the ideal self (whom they wish to be) and away from the feared self (whom they do not want to be), which motivates achievement.

What is Charles Horton Cooley's (1964) concept of the 'looking-glass self'?

It is the process where our self-concept comes from observing how others seem to view us and interpreting their responses to judge whether we are good/bad, strong/weak, etc.

According to George Herbert Mead (1967), what are the two components of the self?

The 'I', which is the spontaneous, creative, and innate part of the self, and the 'me', which is the socialized definition of who we are.

In Mead's theory, what is 'taking the role of the significant other' versus 'taking the role of the generalized other'?

'Taking the role of the significant other' involves considering how one important person views us, while 'taking the role of the generalized other' involves viewing the self through the cultural norms and rules of many others.

How does barometric self-esteem differ from baseline self-esteem in adolescents?

Barometric self-esteem fluctuates rapidly and causes distress and anxiety, whereas baseline self-esteem remains highly stable across adolescence.

What primary factors influence self-esteem in adolescent girls compared to boys?

Girls derive self-esteem from supportive relationships providing social/moral support, while boys derive self-esteem from asserting independence, defining relations to authority, and influencing friends.

What is the major contributor to low self-esteem in adolescent boys?

A lack of romantic competence, such as failure to win or maintain the affection of a romantic interest.

Which two variables determine an individual's type of self-esteem?

Competence and worthiness.

What characterizes authentic self-esteem?

Individuals are realistic about their competence, feel worthy, and actively pursue a life of positive, intrinsic values.

What psychosocial crisis did Erik Erikson propose adolescents face?

'Identity vs. Identity Diffusion', where successful resolution leads to a secure identity and failure leads to role confusion.

According to James Marcia, what two variables determine identity status?

Crisis (actively choosing among alternative occupations and beliefs) and commitment (degree of personal investment in an occupation or belief).

What are James Marcia's four identity statuses?

Identity Diffusion (no commitment/exploration), Identity Foreclosure (premature commitment without exploration), Identity Moratorium (active exploration, low commitment), and Identity Achievement (high commitment following exploration).

What is sociometric status?

A measurement that reflects the degree to which someone is liked or disliked by their peers as a group.

What are the two sub-categories of rejected teens?

Aggressive-rejected teens (hostile, disruptive, overestimating social competence) and withdrawn-rejected teens (socially withdrawn, timid, anxious, lacking confidence).

What is conformity?

The act of changing your behaviors in order to fit in or go along with the people around you.

What are the two types of social influence identified by Deutsch and Gerard (1955)?

Informational influence (changing behavior to be correct by following knowledgeable others) and normative influence (changing behavior to avoid punishments and gain rewards).

What factor primarily determines the likelihood of a teenager becoming a juvenile delinquent?

Lack of parental supervision and discipline, rather than socioeconomic status.

According to Healy and Bronner, what percentage of delinquents revealed emotional disturbances?

$92\%$ of delinquents revealed emotional disturbances.