Adolescent Development: Identity

Personal Identity

• based on what makes you unique

  • what we decide and discover about ourselves

  • personality traits, values, hobbies

  • won’t be the same as everyone

Social Identity

• based on membership in certain groups (what you share with others)

• economic class

• ethnicity, gender, nationality, language, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation

  • makes you similar to other people

3 fundamental changes of adolescence

cognitive

• making decisions for themselves

biological

• sexuality

• what kind of relationship they want in life

social

• peers more important than parents

• around people similiar to them

We are not one thing but a combination of things

• this can be scary

• important to have good examples of this

adolescent identity crisis

interactions with others provide info about strengths, weaknesses and possible selves

we can’t find out who we are alone, but in social contexts to find what feels right

respond to reactions of others to choose from elements that can be part of their identity

social mirror

relates to stereotype threat

and self-fulfilling prophecy

experimentation and exploration is essential before finalizing choices about work, love, and lifestyle

• i think this is what makes teen life seem trivial if nothing sticks

• teacher basic skills, and start with exposing them to different things

agency to get up in the morning