The Self and Identity Development

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The Self and Identity Development
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The Self

• Who am I?
• When we talk about ourselves we are talking
  about The Self
• Please write three sentences about yourself. Make
  sure to write them each on a separate line and
  leave a line between each one.

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Self Concept Self Esteem

• Self-Concept
• The subset of a persons stored knowledge, which
  concerns himself or herself as a distinctive
  object in the world. (Higgins May, 2001)
• Self Esteem
• Feelings that people have about their own
  capabilities and self-worth.

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Self-Efficacy

• Self-efficacy is the belief in ones
  capabilities to organize and execute the sources
  of action required to manage prospective
  situations.
• Bandura, 1986

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What does Self-Efficacy Do?

• THE CHOICES WE MAKE
• THE EFFORT WE PUT FORTH
• HOW LONG WE PERSIST (WHEN WE CONFRONT OBSTACLES
  AND IN THE FACE OF FAILURE)
• HOW WE FEEL

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Differences

• Self-Concept
• Knowledge
• Self-Esteem
• Feelings
• Self-Efficacy
• Beliefs about specific events
• Please look at your paragraph and indicate which
  part of your self is represented by each
  sentence.

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The Search for The Self

• Erikson and Psychosocial development

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Eriksons 8 Psychosocial Stages of Development
Stage 1 Trust versus MistrustIs my world
predictable and supportive? Conflict is centered
on learning to trust others and the world. First
Year of Life (I am what I am given. )
Stage 2 Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt.Can I
do things myself or must I always rely on
others? Conflict is created when growing
self-control is pitted against feelings of shame
or doubt. Second and third years. (I am what I
will be. )
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Eriksons 8 Psychosocial Stages of Development
Stage 3 Initiative versus GuiltAm I good or am
I bad?Conflict centered on learning to take
initiative instead of feeling guilty about ones
actions. Fourth through sixth years. (I am what
I can imagine I will be. )
Stage 4 Industry versus InferiorityAm I
competent or am I worthless?Conflict arises when
feelings of inferiority develop if industrious
behavior is discouraged. Age 6 through
puberty. (I am what I will learn. )
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Eriksons 8 Psychosocial Stages of Development

• Stage 5 Identity versus Role ConfusionWho am I
  and where am I going?Conflict involves
  establishing a consistent personal
  identity.Adolescence(Who am I? )

Stage 6 Intimacy versus IsolationShall I share
my life with another or live alone?Conflict
centered on establishing intimacy with friends,
family, a lover, or spouse. Early Adulthood (We
are what we love. )
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Eriksons 8 Psychosocial Stages of Development

• Stage 7 Generatively versus self-absorptionWill
  I produce something of real value?Conflict
  between stagnant self-interest and interest in
  future generations.
• Middle Adulthood
• (I am what I create. )

Stage 8 Integrity versus DespairHave I lived a
full life?Conflict between a sense of personal
integrity and despair over regretted life
events. Late Adulthood (I am what survives of
me. )
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Erikson and Adolescence

• The problem of Identity

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Why is Identity Important?

• According to Erickson
• The adolescent must develop an acceptable,
  functional, and stable self concept.
• If not, role or identity confusion occurs.
• The individual will be confused as to his or her
  role in society.
• This prevents the formation of a life philosophy
  and a stable base for both career and family
  development.

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How is Identity Formed?

• To form an identity adolescents must maintain a
  connection with their past, establish stable
  future goals, and maintain adequate interpersonal
  relationships in the present.

(Dworetsky, 1996)
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James Marcia

• Endeavored to operationalize Erikson's constructs
• Focused on theoretical constructs related to the
  identity versus role confusion stage.
• Extended Erikson's theory of adolescence by
  describing four alternatives that can occur for
  adolescents who are choosing their identities.
• It is important to realize that people often
  revisit and reassess their values, identities,
  and beliefs throughout their lives. In other
  words, these are statuses not end states.

(Muuss Porton, 1999)
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James Marcias 4 Identity Statuses
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Identity Statuses Continued

• Identity diffused- failure to experience any
  identity crisis or exploration and to commit to a
  set of beliefs identity issues not considered of
  significance
• Foreclosure- failure to experience any identity
  crisis but has committed to goals, values, and
  beliefs identity is not the result of personal
  exploration
• Moratorium- actively searching for an identity to
  eventually assume not yet committed to any one
  set of beliefs, goals, and values
• Identity achieved - experienced identity
  exploration and resolved identity issues on own
  terms committed to a set of goals, values, and
  beliefs

(Muuss Porton, 1999)