7.11: Identity Formation
Psychosocial Development
Identity Development
Self-Concept
Self-Esteem
Identity Formation: Who am I?
- cisgender
- an umbrella terms used to describe people whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex
- foreclosure
- term for premature identity formation, which occurs when an adolescent adopts his or her parents’ or society’s role and values without questioning or analysis, according to Marcia’s theory
- gender
- a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female
- gender dysphoria
- a condition listed in the DSM-5 in which people whose gender at birth is contrary to the one they identify with. This condition replaces “gender identity disorder”
- gender expression
- how one demonstrates gender (based on traditional gender role norms related to clothing, behavior, and interactions); can be feminine, masculine, androgynous, or somewhere along a spectrum
- gender identity
- the way that one thinks about gender and self-identifies, can be woman, man, or genderqueer
- identity achievement
- Erikson’s term for the attainment of identity, or the point at which a person understands who he or she is as a unique individual, in accord with past experiences and future plans; already questioned and made commitment according to Marcia’s theory
- identity vs. role confusion
- Erikson’s term for the fifth stage of development, in which the person tries to figure out “Who am I?” but is confused as to which of many possible roles to adopt
- moratorium
- an adolescent’s choice of a socially acceptable way to postpone making identity-achievement decisions. Going to college is a common example. Engaged in questioning, but not yet making a commitment, according to Marcia’s theory
- role confusion
- a situation in which an adolescent does not seem to know or care what his or her identity is. (Sometimes called identity diffusion or role diffusion)
- self-concept
- our individual perceptions of our behavior, abilities, and unique characteristics. It is essentially a mental picture of who you are as a person. For example, beliefs such as “I am a good friend” or “I am a kind person” are part of an overall self-concept
- self-esteem
- considered an important component of emotional health, self-esteem encompasses both self-confidence and self-acceptance. It is the way individuals perceive themselves and their self-value
- sex
- a term that denotes the presence of physical or physiological differences between males and females
- transgender
- a term used to describe people whose sense of personal identity does not correspond with their birth sex
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