Facilitating Identity Achievement in Students
Who am I? Where do I fit in? These are the questions that spur an individual to begin on their journey to develop their sense of self, a process known as identity formation. Although issues with one’s sense of identity could arise at any point in life, clinical psychologist Erik Erikson theorized that identity formation was most prominent in, and was the most critical developmental task of, adolescence. Ideally, in identity formation, an individual goes through an “identity crisis” in which individuals try to form a unique sense of who they are by attempting to sort through what they already know. Ultimately, this should lead to them making a commitment as to what path their life will take.
The term identity crisis can often times be misleading. Although the word “crisis” tends to carry a negative …show more content…
One thing that is certain when it comes to adolescents is that not all of them are the same. Each teenager has their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as certain individual needs that need to be met. Teenagers do not need someone to make their decisions for them, but they do require guidance in making well-informed decisions for themselves. Ipso facto, parents, educators and other authoritative figures such as athletic coaches play a significant role in the formation of an adolescent’s identity.
In order for an adolescent to form their own identity, they need to achieve autonomy and independence from their parents. It is at point in time when individuals begin to make their own judgments and learn to regulate their own behavior. Individuals are in charge of reevaluating the rules and values that they learned as a child in school or in their home. This emerging independence does not automatically imply that all parental influence will be rejected. In fact, most teenagers continue to rely on family for support and
Who am I? Where do I fit in? These are the questions that spur an individual to begin on their journey to develop their sense of self, a process known as identity formation. Although issues with one’s sense of identity could arise at any point in life, clinical psychologist Erik Erikson theorized that identity formation was most prominent in, and was the most critical developmental task of, adolescence. Ideally, in identity formation, an individual goes through an “identity crisis” in which individuals try to form a unique sense of who they are by attempting to sort through what they already know. Ultimately, this should lead to them making a commitment as to what path their life will take.
The term identity crisis can often times be misleading. Although the word “crisis” tends to carry a negative …show more content…
One thing that is certain when it comes to adolescents is that not all of them are the same. Each teenager has their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as certain individual needs that need to be met. Teenagers do not need someone to make their decisions for them, but they do require guidance in making well-informed decisions for themselves. Ipso facto, parents, educators and other authoritative figures such as athletic coaches play a significant role in the formation of an adolescent’s identity.
In order for an adolescent to form their own identity, they need to achieve autonomy and independence from their parents. It is at point in time when individuals begin to make their own judgments and learn to regulate their own behavior. Individuals are in charge of reevaluating the rules and values that they learned as a child in school or in their home. This emerging independence does not automatically imply that all parental influence will be rejected. In fact, most teenagers continue to rely on family for support and