Role in Understanding Adolescents

The identity crisis is the major conflict faced by the adolescent. Erikson’s
theories about the identity crisis made a major contribution to the adolescent
literature. Marcia’s reconceptualization of ego identity facilitated identity
research and clinical assessment by providing a methodological approach
to identity development and the psychological concomitants of
identity. As a result, the study of identity and awareness of the psychological
impact on the individual become major research areas and provided a basis
for clinical intervention.
The concept of identity crises originated with Erikson, based on the clinical
experiences which he used to develop a theory of ego identity development.
Explication of this theory appeared in his writings during the 1950’s
and 1960’s. Erikson’s theory of the human life cycle places identity resolution
as the major crisis faced by the adolescent. The success of this resolution
is determined by the satisfactory resolution of crises in the stages preceding
adolescence.
Identity formation is a major topic in most textbooks on adolescence,
and it is a focal concern of practitioners who treat adolescents with psychological
adjustment problems. Until the appearance of Erikson’s writings, the
field of adolescence was mostly a discussion of physical and sexual development.
His focus on psychosocial development, especially the emergence of a
self-structure, increased immeasurably the understanding of adolescent development
and the problems faced by the adolescent growing up inWestern
society. As Cote and Levine noted, identity is a multidimensional construct
consisting of sociological perspectives, specifically the social environment in
which the individual interacts, as well as psychological processes. Thus, a
supportive social environment is critical to crisis resolution. The absence of
this supportive environment has frequently been cited as an explanation for
identity problems and the acquisition of a negative identity.