Unit 4 Flashcards
What is identity crisis?
a temporary period of distress as young people experiment with alternatives before settling values and goals
What is the psychological conflict of identity crisis according to Erikson?
identity vs. role confusion
-> who am I?
What does the crisis resolve with?
identity achievement
-> reconsideration of goals and values of parents and culture
-> forging own identity
What is James Marcia’s theory?
identity development as a process of exploration followed by commitment
What is identity achievement in James Marcias theory?
commitment to values and goals AND period of exploration
-> hat alternativen explored jetzt committed to self-chosen goals
What is Identity moratorium in James Marcia’s theory?
Moratorium: delay or holding pattern
Exploration but without having reached commitment
-> process of exploring
What is Identity foreclosure in James Marcia’s theory?
Commitment in absence of exploration
-> accept a ready-made identity chosen for them by authority figures
What is Identity diffusion in James Marcia’s theory?
lack of both exploration and commitment
-> lacks clear direction: not committed to values and goals, and also not trying to reach them
According to James Marcia’s theory, does identity development follow a single path or many paths?
many paths
-> varies across people
What does identity formation usually involve?
exploring range of alternatives
-> making provisional commitments but changing if it doesn’t fit
What are the influences of Identity achievement, moratorium, foreclosure and diffusion each in relation to well-being?
- Identity achievement and moratorium: psychologically healthy routes to a mature self-definition
- Identity foreclosure and diffusion: maladaptive (long-term)
What are characteristics of Identity Moratorium?
at times anxious and depressed about finding commitments
-> active, information gathering cognitive style (for personal decisions and solving of problems)
-> ACHTUNG: if exploration becomes to overthinking (ruminative) - distress and poor adjustment
What are characteristics of Identity-achieved or exploring individuals?
higher self-esteem, more open to alternative ideas and values, more advanced in moral reasoning
what are some characteristics of Foreclosure?
offers sense of security, is a dogmatic, inflexible cognitive style
-> fear of rejection, or might join cults or extremist groups
What are characteristics of Diffusion?
least mature in identity development
-> diffuse-avoidant cognitive style (I don’t care attitude)
-> low in self-esteem and prone to depression
What is the self-concept in teenagers compared to those of younger children?
more complex
How do adolescents describe themselves?
in abstract descriptors that often are contradictory
What is a highly prominent dimension of who am I in the preteen and early teen years and becomes less dominant in late adolescence?
appearance
in adolescence: ideology and belief more important
How do most teenagers think of themselves by late adolescence?
in terms of enduring traits, beliefs, personal philosophy and moral standards
How does self-esteem develop in adolescence?
drops at beginning and then rises steadily
-> especially good feeling about peer relationships, physical appearance and athletic capabilities
What is linked to adjustment difficulties?
low self-esteem
What factors influence self-esteem how?
- authoritative parenting, encouragement from teachers: stable, favorable self-esteem
- critical and insulting parents: unstable, low self-esteem
- peer acceptance can have protective effect on self-esteem
What does development at adolescence strive for?
Autonomy
-> in emotional component and behavioral component
What increases during adolescence?
parent-child conflicts
-> especially between mothers and daughters
What does Deidealizing mean in terms of adolescents and their parents?
viewing them as “just people”
-> no longer bend as easily to parental authority
What is considered effective parenting?
a balance between connection and separation
- autonomy fostered with support
What interrupts development of autonomy? What is it linked to?
coercive or psychologically controlling parents
-> linked to depression, low self-esteem, drug use, etc.
What do parents want for their children?
- prevention of delinquency,
- reduction in sexual activity,
- improved school performance, and
- positive psychological well-being
What are tipps for parents to increase their relationship with their children?
communication, NOT controlling
What are characteristics of adolescents friendships?
Intimacy, Mutual understanding, Loyalty
-> friends are most important source of social support
What is the difference between boys and girls in friendships?
boys: gather for activity
girls: emphasize emotional closeness
What is co-rumination?
repeatedly mull over problems and negative emotions
-> more common in girls
-> TRIGGERS anxiety and depression
What can nowadays contribute to friendships closeness? Are there issues with it?
online interactions (social media)
-> yes! - lost sense of interaction in real life and sexually uninhibited posts are possible
What is very high social media use linked to?
unsatisfying face-to-face social experiences, boredom, depression
What do close friendships provide?
opportunities to explore the self and develop a deep understanding of another
-> foundation for future intimate relationships
What can be devastating in topic dating?
cheating, flirting, switching, disloyalty, breakups and unreciprocated crushes
What is Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory?
the moral development theory
What are moral dilemmas?
stories involving a conflict between two moral values
What are the 3 stages of moral understanding in Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
The Preconventional Level
The Conventional Level
The Postconventional or Principled Level
What does the Preconventional level of Kohlberg state?
Morality is externally controlled
-> children accept rules of authority
-> punishment = bad, reinforcement = good
Which 2 stages does the preconventional level contain?
The punishment and obedience orientation
The instrumental purpose orientation
What is the punishment and obedience orientation of the preconventional level?
stage 1
Individuals who find it difficult to consider 2 points of views in a moral dilemma
-> overlook people’s intentions, focus on fear of authority and avoidance of punishment
What is the instrumental purpose orientation of the preconventional level?
you should do things that are rewarded and avoid things that are punished
-> some beginning of concern for other people but only if it benefits child itself as well
What does the conventional level of Kohlberg state?
individuals regard conformity to social rules
-> not for reasons of self-interest
Which 2 stages does the Conventional level contain?
Stage 3: The good boy-good girl orientation (mutual interpersonal expectations)
Stage 4: The social-order-maintaining orientation
What is the good boy-good girl orientation of the conventional level?
good behavior is what pleases other people
-> desire to obey rules because they promote SOCIAL HARMONY
-> maintain friendships
-> want to be good person
What is the social-order-maintaining orientation of the conventional level?
individual takes into account a larger perspective - that of societal laws
-> not dependent on close ties to others anymore
What does the postconventional level of Kohlberg state?
Individuals move beyond unquestioning support for their own societies rules and laws
-> new kind of personal authority
-> individual makes choices and judgments based on self-chosen principles
Which 2 stages does the postonventional level contain?
Stage 5: The social contract orientation
Stage 6: The universal ethical principle orientation
What is the social contract orientation of the postconventional level?
Individuals can imagine alternatives to their own social order
-> emphasize fair procedures for interpreting and changing the law
What is the universal ethical principle orientation of the postconventional level?
right action is defined by self-chosen ethical principles of conscience
-> valid for all people, regardless of law and social agreement
-> involves balancing equally valid, but conflicting moral principles against one another
How is the moral development in Kohlbergs stages of moral understanding?
slow and gradual
Stages 1 and 2: early adolescence
Stage 3: increases through mid-adolescence and then declines
Stage 4: rises over teenager years until young adults
How many people move beyond stage 4 in Kohlbergs Stages?
few
-> post-conventional morality is so rare, no clear evidence for existence
What influences moral judgements according to Kohlberg?
Situational factors
-> talking through issues with others, relying on intuition, emotions, etc.
