Social and Emotional Development in

Adolescence (Ch 12)

Identity Formation in Adolescence
Erikson

IdentityStatuses
Influences on Identity Achievement

Moral Development
Kohlbergs theory of moral development
Peers Relationships
Cliques ( ) and Crowds
 Cognitive Changes:
Formal Operations
Contributes to
Improved perspective-taking
Naive idealism
can imagine ideal world
Adolescent egocentricity
Imaginary audience
Feeling like we are on stage ( )
Personal fable
Unique and invincible ( )
 Cognitive Changes
Do think more logically
and systematically
But not everyone
Formal operational
thinking
takes longer to
develop
Related to education
 Identity in Adolescence
Developing a sense of who you are and where you fit
in the world
Erikson: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Adolescence is a time of transition
Need to change the way they think of themselves
A Psychosocial moratorium ( )
Gap between childhood dependence
and adult autonomy
allows exploration

(https://www.douban.com/note/147222193/)
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Successful resolution = stable identity
Versus role confusion
over-identification
Or isolation
 Identity in Adolescence
James Marcia Extend the opinion of Erickson.
Exploration (Crisis) [first step]
questioning
experimenting with possibilities

+ Commitment
= a framework for understanding life and
making decisions
 Marcia: Identity Status

Exploration(Crisis)
Yes No
Identity Foreclosure
Yes Achievement
accept parents
independent
values without
evaluation of parents
Commitment question
goals/values cause later problems
Moratorium Diffusion
No unmotivated to explore
still
searching
withdraw when stressed
 Identity
Achievement
 Influences on Identity Status
Cognitive Development
Parenting Influences
Diffused
Feel distant
Foreclosed = too early to commitment
extremely close
Moratorium / achieved
Connectedness and individuality
 Development of Identity
Achievement
Gradual, lengthy process
Neitherbegins nor ends with adolescence
Most important changes occur ages 17 to 22

Resolution does not mean lifetime stability

MAMA cycle: pattern for positive identity
When they going to next stage of lifespan, eg. Marry, have

a baby, going to university

(MAMA: Moratorium- achievement-moratorium-

achievement cycle)
 Moral Reasoning
Judgements about the rightness or wrongness
of actions
Kohlberg
Based his theory on Piagets ideas
Saw development as happening in universal stages

Tested by stories with moral dilemma

3 levels; 2 stages at each level
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9F%AF%E5%B0%94%E4%BC%AF%E6%A0%BC
%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E5%8F%91%E5%B1%95%E9%98%B6%E6%AE%B5
 The Kohlberg Stages
Preconventional Reasoning
Lowest level
Good or bad based on external consequences
Stage 1. Punishment and obedience( )
If its punished its bad
Stage 2. Individualism , instrumental
purpose , and exchange
what is in it for me?
You scratch my back Ill scratch yours
 The Kohlberg Stages
Conventional
Reasoning
Intermediate level
Good or bad defined by conventional standards
Stage 3.( )
Mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships, and
interpersonal conformity
Want social approval
Intentions are important

Stage 4. Social systems

and conscience
Rules/laws there for a reason, e.g., social order

 The Kohlberg Stages

Postconventional
Reasoning
Highest level
Principles of justice ( )
Legally right morally right
Stage 5. Social contract Orientation

Laws are agreements between individuals and society

Can be challenged if unjust

Stage 6. Universal ethical Principles

Internal moral code based on human rights that are

more important than law
 Pro-theft reasoning by stage
Heinz can steal it because he asked first and it's not
Stage 1 like he stole something big; he won't get punished

Pre-conventional Heinz isnt really doing any harm to the druggist, and
Stage 2 he can
always pay him back. He should steal the drug and
save his wife because otherwise hell be alone.
Stealing is bad, but Heinz is only doing something that
Stage 3 natural for a good husband to do. You cant blame him
doing something out of love for his wife. Youd blame h
he didnt save her
Conventional The druggist is leading the wrong kind of life if he just
Stage 4 lets
somebody die; so its Heinz duty to save his wife. But
Heinz
cant
Heinzgo around
should breaking
steal laws
the drug he must
because pay the
everyone has
druggist
the right to life regardless of the law against stealing.
Stage 5 back
Shouldand takebe
Heinz hiscaught
punishment for stealing.
and prosecuted for
Post-Conventional stealing then the law (against stealing) needs to be
reinterpreted because a person's life is at stake.
When one must choose between disobeying a law and
Stage 6 saving a human life, the higher principle of preserv
makes it morally right to steal the drug.
 Age and Kohlbergs Stages
70
Mean percent of moral reasoning

60

50
at each stage

40

30

20

10

0
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36
Age (years)

Stage 1 and 2 are decrease while stage 3 and 4 are increased with the age growth.
 Moral Reasoning
Influences:
Cognitive development
Improvements in role (perspective)-taking
Social environment
Chances to see issues from another perspective
Criticisms
Is justice most important consideration?
role of culture
Role of emotion
caring and relationships
Relationship to behaviour?
 Social Relationships:
Relationships with Peers
Peers become main source of interaction

Peer groups function independently of

adults
Movement toward peers of opposite sex

o
o
o Some kids more vulnerable