Identity Crisis Affects Adolescents

Introduction

The topic of my research is: To what extent does identity crisis affects upbringing. The reason I chose this topic is because at some point in our life we all go through an identity crisis and are confused about our roles. I wanted to research in depth about what are the stages that we go throughout our life and also what triggers an identity crisis.

The present study intends to focus on studying the impact of upbringing on identity crisis among adolescents. The study indicates identity as individual sense of own self. It can be seen as the process of clarifying the role of an individual. The formation of identity would also mean showing ones unique characteristics.

Identity crisis is referred to as “rediscovering of ones self or establishing ones self image” during period of adolescence. Now day’s children in the age group of 12-18 are in the stage where they are growing physically, mentally and psychologically. There is also increase in observations,

Role Confusion – This stage begins with puberty and is marked with crisis of identity vs. role confusion. In this period, adolescents begin to search for their own personal identity. They ask questions to themselves like who am I? What am I supposed to do? In which manner do I have to behave? What have I become? There are a lot of bodily changes seen in an adolescent. The adolescent tries to search for a new role and identity. The way in which an individual tends to develop sense of identity will depend upon how successfully he is able to resolve crisis related to previous stage. When an individual fails to resolve the crisis it leads to role confusion. He may not know what to do and how to behave. If the psychosocial development results in accomplishing a sense of identity, the individual will be more self-confident in his ability to do things. At this stage teachers and parents play a very important role in helping adolescents to deal with identity vs. confusion