The importance of Identity Formation
Within adolescence there is a growing change that more times than not feels awkward and unpleasant. Puberty is the main change That people refer to, but adolescence also brings the change and growing out from one’s parents views. In other words, a child at this time is branching off and forming their own Identity separate from their parents. An Identity that is shaped around politics, occupation, religion, intimate relationships, friendships, and gender roles. At first this gaining of one’s own identity would not appear to have its own scientific and/or academic term, but indeed it does, identity formation.
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“Identity formation is an individual process in which adolescents explore and commit to identity-defining roles and values in a variety of life domains”(Steensma). There are four aspects that are contingent on identity formation: identity diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium and identity achievement. Not only that but within developing one’s Identity, there will be a struggle to achieve in regard to intimacy, generativity, and integrity(Kasinath). Overall, while it appears to be a very complicated time for adolescence when focusing on identity formation, the process results in developing minds and bodies that will stand throughout adulthood(Kasinath). Adolescence and the process of identity formation allows for a person to answer that kind of question of, “who am I?”
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Being able to answer that question makes way for someone to be recognized and known. Identity formation creates individualism within the person and they use that individualism to either distance or connect themselves with others. In other words, one’s identity establishes the intersections and convergences between perspectives, especially queer and ethnic perspectives. Part of identity formation is someone’s coming-out story. More so, the refusal by society to claim or accept an identity, disability identity for example, only further the lack of conversation about disability and furthers oppression.
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“Identity formation is considered to be one of the most important developmental tasks in adolescence”(Topolewska-Siedzik and Cieciuch). While the identity taking shape during childhood is crucial to one’s life overall, many aspects of identity are predicted to change in adolescence. To create that change in adolescence, identity-based decisions focused on exploration and commitment is what is needed(Topolewska-Siedzik and Cieciuch). On top of that, society and how it accepts and works with identity formation has changed. Now, there are endless routes toward exploration and commitment within society in regard to identity.
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Works Cited
Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie. “Integrating disability, Transforming Feminist Theory.” NWSA Journal, vol. 14, no. 3, 2002, pp. 1–32, https://doi.org/10.2979/nws.2002.14.3.1.
Kasinath, H. M.. “Adolescence: Search for an Identity.” Journal of Educational Psychology 7 (2013): 1-6.
Steensma, Thomas D et al. “Gender identity development in adolescence.” Hormones and behavior vol. 64,2 (2013): 288-97. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.02.020
Topolewska-Siedzik, Ewa, and Jan Cieciuch. “Trajectories of Identity Formation Modes and Their Personality Context in Adolescence.” Journal of youth and adolescence vol. 47,4 (2018): 775-792. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0824-7