Psychology: Identity Development (Essay Sample)

Identity Development
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Identity Development
Adolescence refers to the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood and it takes place between 13-19 years. Both physical and even psychological changes, which occur in adolescence usually begin earlier. This transition period brings many independence questions as well as identity and as adolescents cultivate their self-sense, they may encounter challenging choices regarding their academic life, friendship, gender identity, sexuality, and even alcohol. During this stage, children continue to grow emotionally, cognitively, and even physically as they change from a child to an adult. Similarly, as they try to develop improved patterns of a stronger self of sense and reasoning, they try to forge their identities while developing essential attachments with other people compared to their parents (Branje, 2018). However, as they try to seek their identity, I strongly agree that they face many challenges and difficulties as well in deciding on whether to keep on listening to adults or begin making their decisions.
Adolescents face many struggles and challenges in finding their identity during adolescence. Identity is defined as ones’ sense of who as an individual as well as the ways they define themselves in terms of beliefs, roles in society, and even values. During adolescence, self-identity form the basis of self-esteem in life. Though adolescents have control over the development of their identity, their identities are also formed by the other forces outside their control such as peers, school, family, and even ethnic identity. Teen identity develops as adolescents attempt various roles as well as attitudes in various settings like home, social atmospheres, and even school, which enables them the opportunity to explore their values, personal ethics, and sexuality, gender as well as belief systems.
Formation of identity among adolescents is essential. It is all about developing a strong self-sense, personality, individuality as well as connection with others. Hence, a positive teen self-identity is essential since it shapes the perception of the teens of belonging not only for their teen years but in their future life. Erikson explains that whenever a teen fails to develop personal beliefs as well values, they will thus possess an identity crisis (Branje, 2018). Development of identity is a critical process for adolescents and therefore failure to form identity results in role confusion as well as a weak self-sense in future life.
Adolescents face many challenges in the development of identity. Identity development is essential amongst teens because they learn what makes them special as they also feel the need to fit in. some teens feel excluded from others just because of their cultural, sexual, and ethnic, or even gender identity and thus they may end up engaging in harmful behavior. Other factors contributing to struggles during identity development include lack of attachment to parents, no acceptance in a positive peer group, low self-esteem, and even negative influence of adults. These factors generally impact the development of teen identity and deciding on listening to adults or make their own decisions. The factors make teens engage in harmful behaviors like drugs, promiscuity, and substance addiction as they try to relieve stress and confusion, which results from identity formation (Özdemir, Utkualp, & Palloş, 2016). Lack of attachment on parents makes teens end up making their own decisions and some of these decisions are not good. Therefore, I believe that teens struggle a lot as they try to find their identity as well as for deciding on whether to keep on listening to adults or begin making their own decisions.
Adolescence affects the psychological experiences of children and their parents. Many psychological changes take place during adolescence. Such changes include broader reasoning skills, moral as well as logical thinking. Moreover, teens become capable of abstract thinking and they also make rational judgments. Teens also consider the perspectives of other people and they perform things regarding th