Fix the mistake: Doors to Civics ① Living in Society

Adolescence and Identity Formation

As people change from children into adults, they continue to ask themselves, “Who am I?” This period is called adolescence, and major psychological and social changes occur during it. Understanding and overcoming adolescence is a major challenge in identity formation.

Basic Knowledge

Adolescence generally refers to the period from puberty to adulthood. It is a stage in which, along with physical maturity, people are expected to become mentally independent. The philosopher Rousseau called this period a “second birth” and described it as an important turning point when reason and emotions awaken. The psychologist Erikson divided life into 8 stages of development and defined the main task of adolescence as establishing identity. Identity is a consistent sense of “who I am” and “what role I play in society.” In contrast, the state in which identity cannot be established is called identity diffusion. Erikson also described adolescence as a period of moratorium, when people are given a temporary postponement of adult responsibilities, and believed that exploring oneself through trial and error during this period leads to healthy development.

Further Exploration (Background and Significance)

In modern society, adolescence tends to last longer. As higher education has become more common and employment and marriage occur later, moratoriums have lengthened, making it more difficult in some cases to establish identity. In addition, the development of social networking services has created an environment in which people can constantly compare themselves with others, making self-evaluation more unstable. As Erikson showed, establishing identity is not an isolated task but takes place through relationships with others and participation in society. A sense of “being oneself” gradually develops through conversations with friends, family, and the local community. Identity formation is not completed all at once; rather, it is a continuous process throughout life.

Points to Note (Easily Confused Concepts)

① Moratorium and identity diffusion are different. A moratorium is a “period of postponement” for exploration and is a healthy stage, whereas diffusion refers to a pathological state in which the self is not established. ② Rousseau (a philosopher) and Erikson (a psychologist) were different people from different eras. Be careful not to confuse them. ③ Identity is not “appearance”; it is a psychological concept that includes a sense of social roles, values, and continuity. ④ The end of adolescence varies greatly from person to person and cannot be defined solely by chronological age.

Practice

1. Give the concept Erikson identified as the developmental task of adolescence and explain its meaning.
2. Explain why Rousseau called adolescence a “second birth.”
3. Give two factors that may account for the lengthening of moratoriums in modern society.