Factors That Influence Youth Culture
Development Trend – most individuals will follow a process labeled a
“development trend” as they journey from childhood, through adolescence and into
adulthood. A development trend is the “normal” life-cycle process through which
adolescents journey (keep in mind that there are great variations in this journey).
Erik Erikson – believed that humans have to resolve different conflicts as they
progress through each stage in the lifecycle. Erikson looked at life in terms of 8
stages:
1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Oral-Sensory Stage – Birth to 12-18 months)
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Muscular-Anal Stage – 18 months to 3
years)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Locomotor Stage – 3 to 6 years)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (Latency Stage – 6 to 12 years)
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence – 12 to 18 years)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood – 18 to 25 years)
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Adulthood – 25 to 65 years)
8. Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity – 65 years to death)
In looking at Adolescence we are more concerned with the stage of Identity vs.
Role Confusion where teens often go through an identity crisis.
Identity Crisis – Erikson argued that in order to establish a sense of identity, teens
must engage in exploration. They must try out new ways of thinking and
behaving. These include new styles of appearance, new ideas, new groups of
friends, new styles of music, and sexual exploration.
Two outcomes of the Identity Crisis – Identity Achievement or Identity Diffusion
Identity Achievement – is when an individual has come to a firm sense of self
after engaging in a long search full of exploration. He/she tends to have high self
esteem, is socially skilled and does well in life.
Identity Diffusion – is when an individual has not been able to establish a sense of
identity. This person is likely to have low self-esteem, have trouble making
friends, and will be much less successful than the identity-achieved person.