Adolescent Identity Development

Paper Summary:

This paper examines and compares "The Development of the Sense of Self in Adolescence" by A. Blasi and K. Milton and "Styles of Identity Formation in Early and Middle Adolescence" by H. Flum, which both explore different adolescent identity styles and how they are formed. The paper points out that both articles are influenced by Erik Erikson's concept of the development of personality during adolescence. The paper also explains that Flum explores styles of identity within the framework of a number of issues, which concern adolescents at different age levels and represent the intrapersonal and interpersonal facets of the adolescent's experience; whereas, Blasi and Milton clarify an adolescent's sense of self, which underlies the experience of their evolving identity.

From the Paper:

"Flum (1994) results were categorized based on Marcia's ego-identity statuses. These showed whether the participant demonstrated identity diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, diffused type of moratorium and a less-diffused type of moratorium. The participants who fit into the identify diffusion category showed high external orientation and low decisiveness. The lower SES group had the most extreme cases of identity diffusion. The results for sex differences showed that 8 out of 10 of the extreme identity cases where males. There was no difference found for age for participants with extreme identity diffusion and the extreme non diffusion participants."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blasi, A., & Milton, K. (1992). The development of the sense of self in adolescence. Journal of Personality, 59(2), 217-242.
• Flum, H. (1994). Styles of identity formation in early and middle adolescence. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 120(4), 435-467.

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