Identity

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Identity

• Identity development and adolescence
• Self-conceptions during adolescence
• Self-esteem change during adolescence
• Adolescent identity
• Ethnic identity
• Gender identity

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Identity Why an Adolescent Issue?

• Changes in the way we see and feel about
  ourselves occur throughout the life span
• Adolescence marks the first restructuring of
  ones sense of self at a time when he or she can
  appreciate the significance of these changes

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Identity Why an Adolescent Issue?

• Physical changes of puberty
• Appearance
• Relationships with others
• Cognitive changes
• Imagine possible selves
• Develop a future orientation
• Social changes
• In self-conceptions
• In self-esteem
• In sense of identity

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Changes in Self-Conceptions

• Self-conception is the way individuals think
  about and characterize themselves (traits and
  attributes)
• During adolescence, more complex, abstract
  self-conceptions develop
• Personality is expressed in different ways in
  different situations
• Differentiated self-concept
• Actual self
• Ideal self
• Feared self

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Childhood vs. Adolescence
I have a dog named Jake and a brother named
Silas. Im good at sports, but not so good at
school.
Im complicated. Im sensitive, outgoing, popular
and tolerant. I can be shy in some circumstances.
I can also be self-conscious, even obnoxious when
Im upset.I have a positive view of humankind.
Concrete terms, related to traits
Trait-focused, traits more abstract,
personality characteristics
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More Complex Sense of Self
I recognize contradictions in my
personality. Which is the REAL me??? Im shy
around my relatives, but outgoing with my
friends. Im aware that I sometimes show a
FALSE self to others that isnt really the me or
the way I think and feel
The formal operational ability to perceive
multiple aspects of a situation or idea mean that
self-understanding becomes more complex in
adolescence.
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The multiple selves of a 15-year-old girl
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Changes in Self-Conceptions

• False-Self Behavior
• Acting in a way that one knows in inauthentic or
  fake
• Most likely to happen in dating situations
• Least likely to happen around close friends

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Personality in Adolescence

• The Five-Factor Model of Personality (The Big
  Five)
• Extraversion (outgoing and energetic)
• Agreeableness (kind or sympathetic)
• Conscientiousness (responsibility)
• Neuroticism (anxious or tense)
• Openness to Experience (curiosity)

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Personality in Adolescence

• Big Five personality traits
• Influenced by combination of genetic and
  environmental factors
• Strong links between earlier infant temperament
  and adolescent personality
• Adolescence is not a time of rebirth in terms of
  personality
• Most personality traits are quite stable during
  adolescence

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Changes in Self-Esteem

• Self-esteem
• How an individual feels about him or herself
• Self-esteem is fairly stable over time
• Baseline self-esteem The way that adolescents
  typically feel about themselves overall (e.g., I
  am a good person)
• Adolescents feelings about themselves fluctuate
  day by day
• Barometric self-esteem The way that adolescents
  feel about themselves depending on specific
  events of that day (e.g., I feel bad that I was
  mean to my friend)

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Self-esteem Defining Aspects

• Baseline Self-esteem
• Stable, enduring sense of worth and well-being
• Barometric Self-esteem
• Fluctuating sense of worth and well-being as one
  responds to different thoughts, experiences, etc.
  through the course of a day

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Adolescent Self-image 8 Domains
Susan Harter (19892001)

• Scholastic Competence
• Social Acceptance
• Athletic Competence
• Physical Appearance
• Job Competence
• Romantic Appeal
• Behavioral Conduct
• Close Friendship

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The Relative Importance of Different Sources of
Self-Esteem
Susan Harter (19892001)
An Example
Global Self-Esteem
Body Image
Sports/ Athletics
Family
Peers
School
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Changes in Self-Esteem

• During early adolescence
• Increased volatility in barometric self-image
• Different trajectories for different adolescents
• Young adolescents with the most volatile
  barometric self-esteem report the highest levels
  of anxiety, tension, psychosomatic symptoms, and
  irritability

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Experience Sampling Method

• Beeper studies in which adolescents are beeped
  at random times during the day and asked to
  record their emotional state
• Adolescents record feeling self-conscious and
  embarrassed 2-3 times more than adults
• Adolescents are moodier than preadolescents
• Adolescents experience more negative moods than
  preadolescents
• Older adolescents were less volatile (fewer
  extremes) in emotions than younger adolescents

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Decline in Average Emotional States
(Larson et al, 2002)
Average emotional states decline from grade 5
through 11 and then appear to level off at grade
12
Consistently higher numbers for girls than for
boys
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Self-Esteem and Transitions
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Self-esteem in Emerging Adulthood
For most young people, self-esteem rises during
emerging adulthood.
Why might this be?
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Sex Differences in Self-Esteem
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Sex Differences in Self-Esteem
Negative Evaluations of Appearance Among
Adolescents Who Rank These Characteristics High
for Self-Esteem
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Sex Differences in Self-Esteem
Negative Evaluations of Weight Among Adolescents
Who Rank These Characteristics High for
Self-Esteem
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Sex Differences in Self-Esteem

• Gender differences in self-esteem (boys gt girls)
• become smaller over course of adolescence
• more pronounced among white and Puerto Rican
  teens
• less pronounced among African-American teens
• Middle-class gt lower SES
• have higher self-esteem than their less-affluent
  peers
• SES discrepancy grows larger over the course of
  adolescence
• African-American girls gt white/Hispanic
• Do not feel as negative about appearance
• Have higher overall self-esteem
• Show less of a decline in self-esteem over
  adolescence

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Racial Differences in Self-Esteem
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Racial Differences in Self-Esteem

• Higher self-esteem among African-American teens
• Benefit from support/positive feedback of adults
  in the African-American community, especially in
  the family
• Focus on areas of strength, not weakness
• Have a strong sense of ethnic identity that
  enhances self-esteem

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Ethnic Differences in Self-Esteem

• Lower self-esteem among Hispanic-American teens
• Lower levels of authoritative parenting
• Lower levels of perceived teacher support
• Weaker sense of ethnic identity
• Higher levels of family stress

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Antecedents and Consequences of High Self-Esteem

• Across all demographic groups, self-esteem is
  related to
• Parental approval
• Peer support
• Success in school
• Teens who derive self-esteem from peers, rather
  than teachers or parents, show more behavioral
  problems and poorer school achievement

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The Adolescent Identity Crisis

• Eriksons Theoretical FrameworkThe establishment
  of a coherent sense of identity is the chief
  psychosocial crisis of adolescence

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The Adolescent Identity Crisis
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Identity Crisis in Adolescence
Crisis Exploration
Identity Achievement
Identity Confusion
vs.
Establishing a clear and definite sense of who
you are and how you fit into the world around you.
Failure to form a stable and secure identity.
Keep in Mind Achieving identity requires
exploration sifting through life choices,
trying out possibilities, and ultimately making
commitments.
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Items from the Objective Measure of Ego Identity
Status

• 1. I havent chosen the occupation I really want
  to get into, and Im just working at what is
  available until something better comes along.
• 2. When it comes to religion I just havent found
  anything that appeals and I dont really feel the
  need to look.
• 3. My ideas about mens and womens roles are
  identical to my parents. What has worked for
  them will obviously work for me.
• 4. Theres no single life style which appeals
  to me more than another.
• 5. There are a lot of different kinds of people.
  Im still exploring the many possibilities to
  find the right kind of friends for me.
• 6. I sometimes join in recreational activities
  when asked, but I rarely try anything on my own.
• 63. I date only people my parents would approve
  of.
• 64. My folks have always had their own political
  and moral beliefs about issues like abortion and
  mercy killing and Ive always gone along
  accepting what they have.

For more information, see www.uoguelph.ca/7Egadam
s/omeis.htm
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Four Identity Statuses Examples
Identity Status Character from TV, Movie, or Book
Diffusion ?
Moratorium ?
Foreclosure ?
Achievement ?
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Four Identity Statuses Examples
Identity Status Example
Diffusion Im not worried about what to do after schoolwho cares.
Moratorium I want to be a marine biologist, no a lawyer, noa hairdresser like my best friends mom.
Foreclosure I never had to think about what to do, Im taking over the farm from Dad.
Achievement After studying in Peru, I realize I cannot work for a large corporation, I am going to be a nurse.
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The Adolescent Identity Crisis Identity versus
Identity Diffusion

• The adolescents identity results from a mutual
  recognition between the young person and society
• The adolescent forges an identity, but at the
  same time society identifies the adolescent
• Key to resolution lies in social interactions
  (according to Erikson)

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The Social Context of Identity Development

• Course of identity development varies by culture
  and historical era
• Many more career options for women than in the
  past means more complicated choices to make
• The more alternatives that are available, the
  more difficult it is to establish a sense of
  identity
• Because of these complications, adolescents may
  need a time out to figure out identity before
  entering adult roles

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The Social Context of Identity Development

• Psychological Moratorium
• Time out from excessive responsibilities and
  obligations
• Experiment with different roles
• Luxury of the affluent if introspection
  interferes with survival

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Problems in Identity Development

• Identity diffusion
• incoherent, disjointed, incomplete sense of self
• Identity Foreclosure
• bypassing the period of exploration and
  experimentation
• Negative Identity
• identities that are undesirable to parents or the
  community

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Identity Development

• Determining an Adolescents Identity Status
• Degree of commitment
• Degree of exploration or crisis

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Identity Development

• Identity generally not established before age 18
• During college, vocational plans solidify
• but not religious and political beliefs
• College may prolong psychosocial moratorium
• especially for political and religious beliefs
• Individuals may move from one identity status to
  another, particularly during adolescent and young
  adult years

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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Occupation Choice Identity Status
A Achievement M Moratorium F Foreclosure D
Diffusion
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Gender and Identity
Ill put my plans to explore different careers on
hold because its important that I maintain my
relationship. My fiancé is planning to study
engineering, and Ill move to Chicago with him to
support his studies
Consider this scenario in terms of gender and
identity formation in adolescence and emerging
adulthood
Young women tend to have more difficulty than
young men in integrating their aspirations for
love with their aspirations for work, in part
because of gender double standards. Identity
formation conflicts with the task of young adults
to achieve intimacy vs. isolation.
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Masculine Characteristics Independent Aggressiv
e Acts as leader Self-confident Dominant Activ
e Ambitious Outspoken Adventurous Competitive
Likes math and science Takes a stand Makes
decisions easily Skilled in business
Feminine Characteristics Emotional Grateful Ki
nd Creative Gentle Understanding Aware of
others' feelings Enjoys art and
music Tactful Considerate Home oriented Cries
Easily Devotes self to others Strong
conscience
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The Bem Sex-Role Inventory
1. self reliant 2. yielding 3. helpful 4. defends own beliefs 5. cheerful 6. moody 7. independent 8. shy 9. conscientious 10. athletic 11. affectionate 12. theatrical 13. assertive 14. flatterable 15. happy 16. strong personality 17. loyal 18. unpredictable 19. forceful 20. feminine 21. reliable 22. analytical 23. sympathetic 24. jealous 25. leadership ability 26. sensitive to other's needs 27. truthful 28. willing to take risks 29. understanding 30. secretive 31. makes decisions easily 32. compassionate 33. sincere 34. self-sufficient 35. eager to soothe hurt feelings 36. conceited 37. dominant 38. soft spoken 39. likable 40. masculine 41. warm 42. solemn 43. willing to take a stand 44. tender 45. friendly 46. aggressive 47. gullible 48. inefficient 49. acts as a leader 50. childlike 51. adaptable 52. individualistic 53. does not use harsh language 54. unsystematic 55. competitive 56. loves children 57. tactful 58. ambitious 59. gentle 60. conventional
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Gender Concept and Sex-Typed Behavior

Sandra Bem
High Masculinity
Androgynous
Masculine
Low Femininity
High Femininity
Feminine
Undifferentiated
Low Masculinity
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Gender Concept and Sex-Typed BehaviorExamples
from TV, Movies, or Books?
Sandra Bem
High Masculinity
Androgynous
Masculine
??
??
Low Femininity
High Femininity
Feminine
Undifferentiated
??
??
Low Masculinity
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Gender-Role Development

• Gender Intensification Hypothesis
• Sex differences result from societal pressure to
  act in stereotypically masculine/feminine ways
• Androgyny is being both masculine and feminine
• Androgynous females and masculine males report
  higher self-esteem than do their peers

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Culture and Identity

• Conception of self is distinctly Western More
  studies needed on identity development in
  non-Western cultures
• Psychosocial moratorium is more possible in some
  cultures than in others
• Limitations on exploration in love and work are
  tighter for girls in traditional cultures than
  for boys
• Only in recent history has the idea of
  questioning expectations and actively exploring
  alternatives become prevalent (in Western
  cultures)
• Globalization is impacting identity formation
  processes for young people around the world

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Ethnic Identity Development

• Ethnic identity has been studied in African-
  American, Hispanic, Native American, and white
  youth
• Ethnic identity weakest in white youth, overall,
  but many do identify with particular ethnic
  groups (e. g., German, Irish, Italian, Jewish)

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Ethnic Identity Orientations for Minority Youth

• Assimilation
• adopting the majority cultures norms and
  standards while rejecting those of ones own
  group
• Marginality
• living within the majority culture but feeling
  estranged and outcast
• Separation
• associating only with members of ones own
  culture and rejecting the majority culture
• Biculturalism
• maintaining ties to both the majority and the
  minority cultures

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Ethnic Identity Examples
Status Example
Bicultural Being both Mexican and American is the best of both worlds.You have different strengths you can draw on in different situations.
Assimilated I dont really think of myself as Asian American, just as American.
Separated I am not part of two cultures. I am just Black.
Marginal When Im with my Indian friends, I feel White, and when Im with my White friends, I feel Indian. I dont really feel I belong with either of them.
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Multidimensional Model ofRacial Identity

• Three aspects of racial identity influence the
  effects of discrimination
• Racial centrality how important race is in
  defining your identity
• Private regard how you feel about being a
  member of your race
• Public regard how you think that others view
  your race