Reviving Ophelia Summary

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In clinical psychologist Dr. Mary Pipher’s book, Reviving Ophelia, the topic and concerns were the social treatment of young girls and the affects it has on development in that area as well as the influence it has on their cognitive processes. Dr. Pipher also explored the cultural and societal pressures put on young women from a very early age. She used case studies of her patients to elaborate on these influences and give first-hand examples to paint a clear picture of the problems engrained in societal standards and treatments.
Pipher always started by explaining how a young girl, at first, does not necessarily begin to experience the treatments and standards put on women until they are nearly ten years of age. She brought up Freud in her …show more content…

306). The sex we are born as typically indicates the gender one may identify with. As a child grows up, gender-typing creates ways in which young girls and boys learn gender roles that society and culture deem appropriate. Psychologist James Marcia came up with the term identity status which are categories of ego development that are dependent on the presence or absence of crisis and commitment (Papalia, 2014, p. 473). He describes crisis as conscious decision making that is directly related to identity formation. It refers to a period of active engagement with an aspect of identity—where a person is grappling with what to believe and who to be (Papalia, 2014, p. 474). Commitment is the term for personal investment in a system of beliefs or in an occupation or vocation. Marcia explains links between identity statuses and personal traits like self-esteem, anxiety, moral reasoning, and patterns of behavior. He explains four categories that represent the status of identity development. The first one is called identity achievement. This is when one has resolved their identity crisis. During the crisis period, devoted thought and emotional struggle are devoted to major issues in one’s life. You make choices and expresses strong convictions toward them that represent your identity. You listen to your parent’s opinions without feeling the need to adopt them as your own. The second category is foreclosure which is defined as a person who has not spent time considering alternatives -that is, has not been in crisis- is committed to other people’s plans for his or her life (Papalia, 2014, p. 475). They are going along with someone else’s plans because they have not considered their own. They go along willingly with their model of what has been done before them. They are smug and insistent on their way. They listen to their leaders unquestionably. The third category is called

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