The Self: Development During Adolescence

1
The Self Development During Adolescence

• Culture and the Self
• The Self Concept
• Self Esteem
• The Emotional Self
• Identity
• The Alone Self

2
Answer the following

• 1. I am absolutely certain that the following
  characteristics define me now and always will
• 2. The way I came to know these things about
  myself is (events, relationships, experiences)
• 3. I am still working to discover the following
  about myself
• 4. In order to figure out the answers to 3, I
  think I will have to

3
Culture and Self Development

• Individualistic
• Promote self-examination and change
• Collectivistic
• Promote conformity, similarity
• Results in different types of self-concepts

4

• Self-Concept (SC)
• From concrete, external characteristics to
  internal
• Actual selves
• Possible selves
• Possible includes Ideal and Feared self
• Carl Rogers congruent and incongruent states
• Rates of depression peak in mid-adolescence
• Similar to Murray Bowens solid and pseudo self
• SC becomes more complex
• Traits are influenced by contexts
• False selves to their benefit

5
Self-Esteem

• Individualistic cultures
• Asian cultures e.g., Japan
• Dip in SE around puberty
• Peer pressure relational aggression sarcasm
  and ridicule
• Focus on physical appearance
• Different paths
• Baseline and Barometric Self-Esteem

6

• Mostly influenced by context
• Beeper studies
• The company you keep
• Susan Harter domains of self-competence
• Physical appearance
• Influences on SE
• Acceptance and approval by family and close
  friends
• Love and encouragement
• Teacher approval, school success
• SE rises in emerging adulthood many challenges
  are in the past, person has more control and
  responsibility

7
The Emotional Self

• Emotional vs Rational brain
• More negative moods
• Amygdala vs frontal lobes

8
Gender and the Emotional Self

• Carol Gilligan, Mary Pipher a different voice
• US culture devalues assertiveness in females
• Succumb to this social pressure
• Susan Harter - hyperfeminine girls

9
Solid Self Pseudo Self

• Murray Bowen
• Solid - real or core self
• Pseudo - false, or different selves

10
Solid
Pseudo
11
Erik Erikson - Identity

• Who you are, where you are going?
• Childhood and Society 1950
• Crises challenges hurdles expectations
• Identity vs confusion
• Intimacy vs Isolation

12
Identity Statuses

• Negative identity the rebel
• Diffusion unsure, no search (later
  psychological problems)
• Foreclosure chose too early, too narrow
  (conform, conventionality)
• Moratorium time out, search
• Achievement having searched, knowing ones self
  - more likely to be self-directed, cooperative,
  good problem-solvers

13
Gender and Identity

• Females tend to develop intimacy skills earlier
• Males identity
• Ethnic identity
• Assimilation (adopting new culture)
• Marginality (apart from old and new)
• Separation (rejecting new)
• Biculturalism (a part of old and new)
• Global hybrid identity merging local identity
  with elements of global culture

14
The Self, Alone

• Teens spend ¼ of their time
• Self-reflection
• Mood management
• VERY high of time alone indicates problems
  (loner)
• Social vs emotional loneliness not enough
  friends vs no real close friends
• Greatest loneliness late adolescence/early
  adulthood coincides with Eriksons intimacy
  stage awareness of need for connection