A Case Study on The Psychosocial Crisis of Later Adolescence

Running Head: Late Adolescence

Late Adolescence 5

The Psychosocial Crisis of Later Adolescence

One of the significant concerns of Erickson’s psychosocial stage theory is ego identity development and growth. It is a self-conscious sense that develops through frequently changing social interactions due to new information and experiences acquired through interactions with others. According to Erickson, the youth have to resolve two life crises while at the adolescent stage. While in this case, crisis refers to series of internal conflicts within oneself. Equally, the way one resolves these internal conflicts finally determines one’s identity and future development. (Pittman,2011) Moreover, as teens transition into adulthood, they are usually grasped by the feeling of confusion and insecurity as they attempt to fit into society. In an attempt to establish themselves, teens engage in different roles, behaviors, and activities, as illustrated by Gilbert’s scenario from the “movie what’s eating Gilbert Grape.” (Griffiths,2011)

In particular, the crisis of identity versus identity confusion usually occurs between the early to middle adolescent stage period of a teen. Usually, it involves the struggle to create a balance between developing one’s unique personal identity and fitting into the family and society’s “acceptance.” According to Erickson, it is believed that if youths manage to overcome the crisis of determining what they desire to be and how they want to be viewed by others, they would finally emerge with explicit knowledge of their identity and can easily share with others. Hence, they become healthy and well-adjusted. Besides, they become confident personalities who can interact with other people freely minus losing their own identity. (Pittman,2011)

On the other hand, when one fails to navigate the challenges successfully, he may become uncertain about himself. Consequently, when one lacks such understanding, he may disconnect himself socially from family and friends. Also, one can become an extremist by exaggerating the sense of their importance. However, concerning Erickson’s theory, youths stuck at the stage would not grow into mature adults emotionally. (Pittman,2011)

Similarly, Gilbert’s story, “What’s eating Gilbert Grape,” who is a young teenager entangled within the crisis of identity versus identity confusion, depicts Erickson’s point of view. Gilbert, who assumed the whole family responsibility after the father committed suicide, has to navigate the series of crises to find his identity. For example, he had to take care of his brother Arnie and provide financial support to the family. Gilbert subsequently had to assume a father’s responsibility, while his sisters took the cooking role as a mother. Thus, affecting their emotional development. In so doing, Gilbert decided to take the job of stocking shelves and supply groceries in the local store to feed the family. Equally, he decided to take the leading role to ensure the safety of his mentally challenged brother. However, after meeting Becky for the second time in town, Gilbert had to redetermine his domestic duties, functionality, and mental status to preserve his identity. (Griffiths,2011)

Moreover, Gilbert expresses the strong desire for freedom through the opening scene of campers riding through Endora, whose landscape was Gilbert’s trap. Meeting Becky helped him understand how Becky valued the liberty he had been craving for but unable to get. Gilbert felt that advancing his relationship with Becky could allow him to share some sense of freedom. After that, Gilbert started having several chats with Becky throughout the week. He later started seeing his life in Endora differently as he got space in his isolated community. Gilbert later indicated the realization of his freeing ideas, thus overcoming the crisis. (Griffiths,2011)

Another crisis that usually occurs, ranging from adolescent to adulthood, is intimacy versus isolation. It is an attempt to resolve the opposite nature of intimacy. For instance, to establish a mutual balance between receiving support and love versus giving support and love. Therefore, the youths must strive to build and maintain cordial friendships outside the family and achieve reciprocity in a romantic relationship. According to Erickson, if a teenager successfully manages to overcome the crisis, they would finally develop the ability to form honest, reciprocal relationships with others. Thus, one would have the capacity to bond with one another to form one “Marriage” goal. However, when the youth fail to solve the crisis successfully, they may become self-isolated or become needy, vulnerable, and dependent. Accordingly, failure to navigate the problem would lead to stagnation of emotional development resulting in loneliness without social supports. (Pittman,2011)

Gilbert also finds himself in the same crisis of intimacy versus isolation. For example, due to love, Gilbert decided to put his life to hold to provide love, care, and support to his brother Arnie and equally maintain a job to cater to the family expenses. Also, Gilbert fell in love with Becky, thus opening his heart and making steps of even introducing Becky to his mother, signifying his trust in the relationship. Gilbert later realized how to love himself, a realization that drove him to burn their home and to begin a new stage of his life minus burdens. Thus, overcoming the crisis of intimacy versus isolation. (Griffiths,2011)

On the other hand, other developmental theorists do not subscribe to the developmental process’s view as a series of crises. Instead, they consider developmental processes to be more flowing and flexible. According to contemporary theorists, the process of determining an individual’s identity is natural, where one tries to experiment with various identities to experience different outcomes to decide who they are and how they want to be perceived by others. To illustrate, a lady may be suspicious about the Gothic culture and develops the feeling to “go gothic.” To match the gothic culture, she pierced her lips, got the hair dyed black, and began to put on black and purple Victorian-designed clothing, mainly with a seductive flair. (Shaffer & Kipp 2013)

Consequently, she begins to associate closely with other Goths as she listens to Goth music. as a result, she may experience outcomes such as; rejection by the former friends and poor relationship with her parents due to the outlandish clothing and change of lifestyle. Again, the sense of belonging resulting from sharing with the new culture or enjoyment of the attention received due to her unique way of life could also be other outcomes. Therefore, if the positive results offset the negative impact, she may finally decide to use her different identity experiences to determine her identity. (Shaffer & Kipp 2013)

Likewise, Gilbert deviates from the American family tradition by taking the leading role as a family head instead of Bonnie to provide for the entire family. The town’s model for a traditional family was the carvers. Subsequently, due to the lack of a father figure, Gilbert assumes the role of a father. For this reason, the entire town criticized the family’s setup and watched their every move while making judgments. Finally, probably due to public critic, Gilbert abandoned that setup and decided to settle with Becky. Thus, deciding upon his identity. (Griffiths,2011)

Similarly, according to contemporary theorists, youths may experiment with various social strategies and skills. For example, a girl may attempt to hang around boys to see if she can create more attention. Along with the processes, one may observe how their peers align their social skills. For instance, they might notice how their well-liked fellow makes fun and good jokes. Such learning processes allow them to build a strong social bond with friends, family, and even companions. Therefore, during such procedures, the youths may experience success and failure along the experimental journey, using various approaches while interacting with their friends and family. Finally, such social support networks allow fellows to build emotional intimacy with few select individuals and obtain satisfaction from those relationships. (Shaffer & Kipp 2013)