This paper surveys research findings on identity development across the lifespan, examining how individuals form and refine their sense of self from early childhood through adulthood. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from developmental psychology, the paper explores multiple dimensions of identity, including self-concept, cultural and ethnic identity, national identity, religious affiliation, career development, and gender. It also considers how social interaction shapes and reinforces personal identity over time. The paper argues that identity development is a staged yet fluid process, unique to each individual, and that a strong, internally validated sense of self is essential for psychological well-being and healthy functioning in the broader social world.
Identity development is a topic that has been studied for some time. There are two main ways to address it: as young children who are just developing an identity, and as adults who are changing or developing an identity they never fully created or did not like as a child. Each person, as he or she grows, develops a distinct and separate identity from other people (Willemsen & Waterman, 1991). While an individual may change over time, there is a part of that person's identity that generally remains the same as it was when it was first developed.
The creation of an identity helps to define a person to others, but it also works to define an individual to himself or herself. Everyone has likely heard people say that they need to "find themselves," and that is part of the development and exploration of identity. The identity of a person can be something very personal and deeply human, or it can also refer to how a person is seen by others — such as through a professional reputation or public notoriety. Both areas are part of a person's identity.
There are several parts to a person's identity. One is the sense of uniqueness he or she feels when compared to others (Steinberg, 2008). That uniqueness is very important to many people, because it is what sets them apart from everyone else and gives them a sense of self. Additionally, there are other parts to a person's identity. These include the sense of continuity and the sense of affiliation (Willemsen & Waterman, 1991). In short, people want to belong to a group and also want to be different and separate from that group.
These same people also want to see and feel a continuation of their identity as they move through life. They need to know "who they are," and they will not know that if their identity continues to change. Developmental psychology is a large part of the development of a personal identity. In fact, a large number of theories in the psychological realm focus on the sense of self and how it can be better developed in order for a person to be mentally happy and healthy throughout life. This can be a very difficult thing for some people to achieve.
The changes that take place in a person and his or her identity development generally come in stages (Grotevant, 1997). These stages are very important, and they can also overlap with one another in addition to being addressed separately. In most people, each stage is clear and distinct. In some people, the stages move from one to another very fluidly, so that there seems to be an overlap between stages. Both are viable ways for the individual to change and grow through the various stages of identity development.
When discussing the development of identity and the stages through which a person goes, another factor that affects our understanding is the individual theorist who is discussing the issue. Some say there are many stages, and others say there are only a few. There is no definitively right or wrong answer, because each person will have an experience that is both similar to others and unique at the same time. These experiences are likely not thought of in stages by the person going through them, so the stages have relevance only to the psychological theories and studies that are undertaken, and not to the individual.
The concept of self is one of the most important issues for development where identity is concerned (Goossens, 2008). As young children, an understanding develops that a person is different from others. Babies do not have the realization that they are separate and distinct entities — they are not yet aware enough to recognize that. However, younger children begin to realize some form of autonomy, and that they are not simply an extension of everything else around them. They have an identity that is all their own, and they should be encouraged to develop it. If they do not develop their own identities early in life, they can grow up codependent and struggling to make their own way in the world (Steinberg, 2008; Willemsen & Waterman, 1991). They may look for external validation from others and a sense of connectedness instead of developing an internal sense of self-worth. Having an identity that is strong enough to stand apart from others is something that is only developed over time (Grotevant, 1997).
Children who are very young recognize their uniqueness, but they also need to have some form of connectedness with others so that they understand their place within the world and their community (Steinberg, 2008). There are many different subsets of a person's identity, and they all need to be studied and considered in order to understand what makes up a complete person. Self-concept is only one of the issues faced by individuals as they begin to learn who they are and how they fit into the world. The way a person interacts with his or her community is also part of a person's identity (Steinberg, 2008). He or she may be a community leader, or have ties to a business or a family in a particular community that causes that person to be recognized in some way. That recognition can be an important part of the development of a person's identity, since individuals often look for external validation alongside the self-awareness needed to build internal validation.
"Cultural, ethnic, and national influences on identity"
"Religion, occupation, and gender as identity dimensions"
"How relationships and community shape personal identity"
Interaction with other people greatly affects a person, even if that person attempts to remain aloof and uninterested. Human beings are social creatures overall, and they generally want to be involved in the lives of others. When people come together and support one another, it benefits those individuals and the people with whom they come into contact in the future. Individuals who are more closely tied to others tend to be healthier and happier — they have lower levels of depression and anxiety, and they may even live longer. Not everyone wants to be highly social, but even one or two close relationships can help. Identity should not be so tied to social interaction that others control a person's sense of self, but people are undeniably shaped by their interactions with others and by what those others think of them — a fundamental part of human nature.
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