Identity Development Flashcards
What are the 3 different problems that Eriksons’s stages of development focuses on?
- identity diffusion
- identity foreclosure
- negative identity
What is identity diffusion?
the incoherent, disjointed, incomplete sense of self characteristic of not having resolved the crisis of identity
what can identity diffusion lead to ?
- excessive self-consciousness and difficulty making decisions
- difficulties in work, school, and relationships
What is the term for premature establishment of a sense of identity, before sufficient role experimentation has occurred
identity foreclosure
What is psychosocial moratorium?
a period during which individuals are free from excessive obligation & responsibilities and can therefore experiment with different roles & personalities
What is the term negative identity?
the selection of an identity that is obviously undesirable in the eyes of significant others and the broader community
Why would people prefer having a negative identity?
because they would rather be somebody “bad” than nobody at all
What is ethnic identity?
the aspect of individuals sense of idenity concerning ancestry or racial group membership
What are some facts about ethnic idenity development in the U.S?
- Generally weakest in white youth
- White adolescents less likely than Black, Latinx, or Asian adolescents to explore their ethnic identity or feel strong commitment to it
- Among immigrant adolescents, vacillation between identifying as a member of a broad ethnic category or a group defined by country of origin
What is the process of ethnic identity development similar to?
the process of identity development in general
What does frequent contact with peers from the same ethnic group contribute to?
Stronger positive feelings about ethnicity
What is associated with biculturalism?
Positive mental health among ethnic minority adolescents
What is ethnic socialization?
the process through which individuals develop an understanding of their ethnic or racial background, also referred to as racial socialization
What are the 3 themes for ethnic socialization?
-understanding and valuing one’s culture
- dealing with racism
- succeeding in the mainstream society
What is the immigrant paradox?
teens who have immigrated more recently to the U.S score higher on measures of adjustment than teens from the same ethnic group whose families have lived in the U.S for several generations
