Erikson's Argument Essay: The Formation Of Identity

Identity is a fundamental part of all humans. Whether one’s identity consumes their personality or lays in the shadow of their persona, all humans share this personality trait. Identity is defined as the distinctive characteristic belonging to any given individual or shared by all members of a particular social category or group .In sum an identity is the essence of a person or group that shines through as a dominant characteristic. The formation of identity takes place at various stages of one’s life each have equally opportunity to be profoundly impactful of shaping self image/ concept or identity. Notable familial, mentor or cultural figures can all be influential in constructing one’s identity.
When one is growing up, identity formation

is very pertinent challenge children faced. With a combination of physical, cognitive and social changes, an identity may be hard to identify and solidify due to its changing nature.

Erik Erikson, a psychoanalyst, coined the phrase identity crisis when he observed a point in one's life where a period of change or debilitating uncertainty occurs. a turning point rather than a period of profound or debilitating uncertainty. Erikson acknowledged that identify issues could appear at any point in one's life, but the formation of identity itself would foreshadow the hardships to come. The shifts of life are often grouped into years, the transition between school grades, but a profound life changes such as parent’s divorce or abuse, accelerate the identity formation process. In a research paper published 2002 by Act for youth, the idea of identity across context was investigated. For example, teenagers often behavior differently when they are around their peers than they would with their parents. A

statement that is already quite generally known, but know there is research done ( by Steinberg & Morris, 2001) explaining why one might be outgoing and eccentric when with friends but shy at their own homes. Erickson described this identity exploration as “ a crisis of identity versus identity diffusion”. This age of middle adolescence (approximately ages 14-16) relies heavily on social and external forces when developing a self image, and or concept. Erickson argued that to achieve a solid identity would require a period of psychosocial moratorium -- “a time when the adolescent is relieved from the obligations and responsibilities of adulthood that might restrict his or her pursuit of self-discovery.”
Adolescents who prematurely assume adult responsibilities, such as working to support their family, or becoming parents themselves, have a harder time achieving their own identity. Thus their identity may exists in a fragile and immature state in their future life when faced with difficult challenges.
Discovering the vitality of those unseemingly important years in adolense left me with a question that demanded to be answered.

What role does the media play in affecting teenagers concept of self identity and esteem? Growing up in the modern world without the media impinging on daily life is nearly impossible. The present day has developed a new identity which is that of social media. Being conditioned to show only the most flattering and best sense of ourselves, social media projects itself as another form of modern identity. Children as young as 7 or 8 are already absorbed into various social media platforms as well as the authoritative music industry. The message being broadcasted far and wide is clear. Thin, but with ample derriere, strong but not threatening, and visibly ebullient, but not insincere. Women are constantly bombarded with this cookie-cutter mold that only fits a fraction of the actual population. So what does this message, this constant reminder of you significant until you’re perfect do to young girl’s self

esteem?
Carl Roger’s theory of personality coincides with abraham maslow stating that every human has the basic instinct to improve itself and realitze one’s full potential. This enlightenment was called self-actualization by both Roger and Maslow. This state of being was attained when the idea self and self image corresponded proportionally to each other. Social media acts as a tangible version of the concept of the ideal self described by Roger and Maslow. Social media allows one to construct their self as a human without flaws, executing their life with passion and all while entertaining their audience of followers and “likers”. The persona derived from the cyber world is the person one wants to be, as well as the person one wants to be seen as.