Question

Select the developmental stage which is characterized by a search for personal identity.

• A. Infancy
• B. Early childhood
• C. Adolescence
• D. None of these

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Adolescence

Adolescence and Personal Identity Formation

• Identity vs. Role Confusion: According to Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory of Development, adolescence (roughly ages 12 to 18 years) is marked by the fifth stage of development: Identity vs. Role Confusion.

• Search for Identity: During this stage, individuals grapple with fundamental questions such as "Who am I?" and explore personal beliefs, occupational choices, moral values, and social roles.

• Basic Virtue: The successful resolution of the crisis at this stage leads to the emergence of the core virtue of Fidelity (the ability to sustain loyalties and commit to values despite inevitable contradictions).

• Role Confusion: Failure to establish a cohesive identity results in role confusion, uncertainty about personal goals, and difficulty defining one's place in society.