AdolescenceDoes it exist as a life

stage?

Dr Ros Weston

Head of Psychology

Does it exist as a life stage?Is it a period of change?

Change

• in sexual behaviour (hormones)

• more time with peers than family

• decisions about future

• rates of mental disorder peak (Rutter et all, Isle of White Study (1976))

•Freud: adult sexuality focus (genital stage) and on independence. Erikson supported this

Erikson’s View – 1902-1994

• Identity diffusion (uncertainty)

• identity crisis – ‘who am I’- ‘Who do I want to be’

‘Do adolescents experience high levels of stress?’

Evaluation

• Erikson correct about life change in adolescence

• He overstated the case

• Offer reviewed the literature and suggests

many adolescents are able to cope and yet the literature suggests they do not

Erikson only spoke about male not female (feminist criticism Archer et al (1992))

Erikson did not carry out experimental tests

Erikson describes but does not explain

Is there a single identity?

intimacy

diffusion of time

diffusion of industry

negative identity

Smith & Crawford (1986)

Low self esteem – evidence does not support this. Marsh (1989) suggest it is positive not negative

Adolescents are not highly emotional (Lawson et al 1989)

Problems occur early rather than in late adolescence

Sex (gender difference) is identity formation (Dowan & Adelson (1966) supported by Waterman(1985))

Adolescence : Marcia’s TheoryMarcia (1966 ; 1980), Influenced by Erikson (1963)

READ THE CASE STUDY Anne Frank page 444 in text book

• At any point in time each individual adolescent has an identity status

• Marcia investigated this using semi-structured interviews

• He explored feelings and thoughts about occupational choice, religion and political ideology

He classified each individual as two dimensions

a) Have alternatives been considered?

b) Have firm commitments been made?

RESULTS

Marcia concluded that there are four possible identity statuses.

1. Identity diffusion : identity issues have not been considered and no firm commitments made for the future.

2. Foreclosure : choices not considered yet. Future commitments been made.

3. Moratorium : active exploration of alternatives but no definite future commitments (agrees with Erikson’s identity crisis)

4. Identity achievements: alternatives been carefully considered and future commitments made.

Is this pattern only demonstrated in adolescents? OR

Does it happen throughout the lifecycle?

Evaluation of Marcia, (1966, 1980)

• Meilman (1979) supports Marcia from evidence using semi-structured questionnaires. See p.446 for results

• Erikson & Marcia agree that their original theories were oversimplified. It is not either identity formed or not formed. This is an ongoing process as we face life challenges (see Marcia (1979)

• Social & cultural factors matter see Minro & Adams 1977. University gives more time for exploration especially compared with going to work

• Marcia disagreed with Erikson : there are different ways in which an adolescent can fail to achieve a sense of identity. People feel happier in moratorium stage than in diffusion and foreclosure.

DON’T WE ALWAYS!!

• Factors in the family. How is this process affected by family relationships and attachment process? (Waterman (1982))

Adolescent Social DevelopmentSociological Approach

Coleman’s Focal Theory

• Storm & Stress (Hall, 1904)

•Coleman challenges this : most young people do not experience severe difficulties. They focus, think & solve crisis

• It is a time of change but not crisis

• Coleman & Hendry (1990) large – scale study – 800 participants. Discussed topics that were

• anxiety provoking

• self image : being alone

• Occupational choice

• Sexuality

•Parental relationships

all had different results depending on age. Adolescents manage their own life stage. They are successful in coming through.

Relationship in Adolescence

• Parents : is there conflict? Piaget’s abstract thought & hypothetical thinking

• Socio – biological theory suggests independence is an issue

•Most young people happy with home situation (Offer et al, 1988)

• there are legitimate areas of difference

• Durkin (1997). Conflict is part of life not just adolescence.

•Adolescents have multiple attachments (Ryan & Lynch, 1989)

Relationships with Peers

• (Palmonai 1989), peers are important

• Social conformity (Cou Staryo & Shaw 1966)

• Group socialisation theory (Harris 1997)

Synoptic Issues

Individualist Vs CollectivistSub – Cultural differences

Religion

DelinquencyGender differences

•Cultural identity

•Cultural differences