Analyzing Erikson's Lifespan Theory

Adolescents is a very complex and complicated time in any adolescent’s life. It is a time of growth and development of one’s psychosocial, intellectual, and emotional self. As well as many biological and hormonal changes that occurs. In Erikson’s (1968) Lifespan Theory, Erikson identified this time in a person’s life as identity versus role conflict. During this time in an adolescence’s life having a clear sense of self and identity is being established as they grow into adults. Concurrent to establishing one’s self, an adolescent’s relationships are being defined, and social and personal behaviors are being defined and developed. During this time in one’s life, many changes are occurring, and a growing and developing adult is emerging. For any teenager, this can be challenging to do; however, for a teenager who is in the State’s custody can be even …show more content…
While anger is a normal human emotion, uncontrolled anger is a serious issue that many children and teenagers in State’s custody have a problem addressing. Uncontrollable anger is early warning signs of violent behaviors, possible criminal history, and antisocial personality disorders (Puskar, Ren, Bernardo, Haley, & Stark, 2008; Kellner & Bry, 1999; Blake & Hamrin, 2007). Uncontrolled anger is linked to three of the highest leading causes of homicides, suicide, and injuries among adolescents in the United States. This severity of anger can come from many different factors; however, negative or lack of family support, low self-esteem, low optimism and future goals, negative life events, anxiety, and depressive symptoms have a positive relationship with uncontrolled anger in children and teenagers (Puskar et al., 2008). These combinations of factors are what many minors in the State’s custody suffer from on a daily