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An Interdisciplinary approach to Theoretically Explain Adolescent Homosexuality
Practices for Formation Identity and Societal Sexual Gender Acceptance.
Easterann K. Kea
Author Note
Easterann K.Kea, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Norfolk State University.
Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Easterann K. Kea,
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue,
Norfolk, Va. 2354. E-mail: e.k.craighead@spartans.nsu.edu.
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Abstract
The practice of Homosexuality has existed in every society. It has been encouraged in
the society of ancient Greece. Today in our society homosexuality has significantly
increased in our culture among adolescence. This paper identifies two theories; Erik
Erickson’s theory, Identity vs. Role Confusion from psychosocial development of
psychology and Societal Sexual/ Gender Acceptance from theorists George Herbert
Meads and Herbert Blumer of Sociology. The integration of the two disciplines and
theories will explain the practices of homosexuality among adolescence in our society,
and the identity formation and social sexual gender acceptance that it stem from.
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Discipline and Theory Map
This research is conducted to explain why
adolescence homosexuality for identity formation
and social sexual gender acceptance.
Discipline 1.- Psychology
Discipline 2. Sociology
The science that deals with mental
processes and behavior.
The study of human social behavior
and development of human society
Erik Erickson Theory
George Herbert Mead
Identity vs. Confusion
Symbolic Interaction
Sexual/Gender Identity
S
Interdisciplinary approach to explaining
Adolescent homosexuality Identity and
Sexual/Gender acceptance
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The first theoretical approach I will discuss is the Identity vs. Confusion (also
known as Identity Formation) and Sexual/Gender Identity recognized by psychologist
Erik Erikson (1968). Erick Erikson was influence by Sigmund Freud’s theories. Erikson
theories in child development differ in important ways. Sigmund Freud was interested in
psychosexual stages of development in the five to six years of life, but Erikson was
interested in the development of the psychosocial stage throughout the entire life span.
Erikson proposed eight stages of human development. In these development stages,
individual experience psychosocial conflict or crisis. Erikson saw the struggle in periods
where growth is high but a person is vulnerable for potential failure to obtain it.
Erickson’s Identity vs. role confusion theory states that adolescence ages 13 to 19 tries
to establish a sense of self. They explore who they are and where they are going by
testing roles and putting them together to form an identity. Adolescence is sometimes
confused at what role they play when it comes to sexual, political and future vocational
identities (Berger, 2008, p. 36). According to Erickson, the ultimate achievement for
adolescence is Identity achievement. Adolescence does this by considering goals and
values set by their cultural, parents, testing the waters of sexuality (homosexuality) and
later deciding or recognizing their sexual preference and identity.
Erikson has termed sexual identity to gender identity due to the fact that
social scientists viewed sex and sexuality as a biological male/female and the
characteristics of gender refer to social and cultural. Erikson and other theorist were
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concerned that adolescence were confused about their sexual identity will adopt a
inappropriate sex role.
If an adolescent is unable to identify with his or her identity in the identity vs. role
confusion stage, they aren’t able to enter the next stage of development which is
Intimacy vs. isolation. In this stage they will form strong companionship and friendship.
The failure to form an identity and role may lead to failure to form shared identity with
others. Erikson state in his theory, this is the most crucial stage in life.
Map 2. Homosexual Stages for Adolescence. (Owens, 2001, p. 510)
Sensitization
Begins before puberty-homosexual
feelings experienced without
implication for self-identity.
Identity Confusion
The Adolescent realizes that he/she may
be homosexual
Identity Assumption
Commitment
The person identifies with his or
her sexuality and adopts the
lifestyle.
Individual identifies self as
homosexual, finds support in
homosexual community to
encourage identity.
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The Symbolic Interaction Theory is introduced by George Herbert Mead. Meads
was driven by the study of how individuals course of interaction produce a sense of self.
Another socialist name Herbert Blumer, who was a student of George Mead, studied at
University of Chicago. Symbolic Interaction focuses on interpersonal communication in
the micro level of social settings and explains that social behavior is subjective to their
social circumstances. It also explains that people are a product of their own social
circumstances and it validates an unpopular and nonofficial viewpoint that increases our
understanding and tolerance towards people who are different from us. (Brym & Lie,
2007, p. 17)
Mead’s saw self as developing in four stages of Role taking. Meads explains, a
person sense of self is developed during the course of interaction with other people,
called generalized other.
Map 3. Mead’s Four Stages of Development: Role Taking
Stage 1
Children learn language and other symbols by
imitating important people in there live.
(mother/father)
Stage 2
Children pretend to be other people, use of imagination
Stage 3
By age 7, children are more complex with game, ect.,
requiring them to take roles of other people
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Stage 4
Development of self, involves taking the role
(generalized other)
Social Interaction regards culture as the independent variable. People don’t accept
culture passively. We actively produce, and interpret culture to fit in with accordance to
our diverse needs.
Discussion
The integration of Identity vs. Confusion theory gives us an understanding to why
the adolescent years of a child’s life is very important to identify. It explains why
homosexuality is practiced in the adolescent years. Homosexuality is express in the
adolescent year because these are the years that the adolescent tries to establish a
sense of self through testing different role. The Social Interaction of an adolescent is
integrated in a course of time and interaction with people. Adolescent children identify
themselves by cultural, symbols, values and belief that are first establish by their
parents. If the Identity and the social interaction in the life of a child is not establish in
the process of adolescent years, the young person will fail to share his or her identity
with others.
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Reference
Owens, B. Karen (2002). Physical Development Adolescense. Child and Adolescent
Development an integrated approach (pp. 510, 511). United States:Thomas Learning.
Berger, S. Kathleen (2008). Adolescence: Psychosocial Development., The Developing
Person (pp. 416-417). United States: Worth Publisher.
Brym, J. Robert, & Lie, John (2007). Symbolic Interaction. Sociology: Your Compass
For a New World (pp. 74, 99, 101) . United States: Thomas Learning.