Book chapter
Identity Development in Adolescence: Implications for Youth Policy and Practice
Promoting Positive Youth Development, pp.187-208
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, Springer Verlag
2015
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-17166-1_10
Abstract
Upon entering adolescence, people generally experience several changes involving physical growth and development, advances in cognitive abilities, and increased expectations regarding contributions to society. In light of these developmental experiences, youth begin to explore and understand their place in the social world. At the same time, young people are not only passive recipients of the social environment—they also interact actively with it (choose activities, associate with friends and social groups). Therefore, they engage not only in a process of self-exploration and discovery but also in a process of creation. This dynamic process is commonly referred to as identity development. Because developing a positive sense of identity is important for adolescent development, it is similarly important to consider in regard to positive youth development. In this chapter, we summarize research, offer recommendations, and provide practical resources for youth development practitioners, educators, and policy makers who seek to use research on identity development to help young people to thrive.
This chapter is divided into four sections. In the first section, we describe several identity theories. In the next section, we review what we have learned from research regarding ways that youth outcomes are related to adolescent identity development. Next, we discuss implications of identity research for youth practice and policy, highlighting one federal youth initiative and one youth program that may facilitate adolescents’ positive identity development. Finally, we provide recommendations for youth practitioners.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Identity Development in Adolescence: Implications for Youth Policy and Practice
- Creators
- Kuan Xing - University of Illinois at ChicagoEmilia ChicoDanny L Lambouths IIIAerika S BrittianSeth J Schwartz
- Contributors
- Edmond P Bowers (Editor)G John Geldhof (Editor)Sara K Johnson (Editor)Lacey J Hilliard (Editor)Rachel M Hershberg (Editor)Jacqueline V Lerner (Editor)Richard M. Lerner (Editor) - Tufts University
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Promoting Positive Youth Development, pp.187-208
- Publisher
- Springer Verlag; Cham
- Series
- Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-319-17166-1_10
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2015
- Academic Unit
- Family Medicine; Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education
- Record Identifier
- 9984658241902771
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