According to Erickson, teenagers go through the stage of identity or identity confusion. Teenagers experiment various things at this stage, with an aim of determining who they are (Hamman & Hendricks, 2009). They experiment new trends in fashion, hairstyles, and are sometimes perceived to be rebellious by their parents. This perception is based on the fact that the society expects teenage boys and girls to behave in a certain way. The societal beliefs, values, and norms place certain expectation on how the teenagers should behave (Hamman & Hendricks, 2009). However, teenagers go through a stage where they need to know who they are (identity). This explains why they have to experiments a lot of things, including engaging in some real or perceived destructive behavior. From Erickson’s view, the experimentation stage during the teenage stage is extremely important. If the teenager fails to know their identity, he/she will experience some developmental problems. The identity crisis affects most of the teenagers who are unaware of whom they are, what they are expected to do in the society. Such teenagers lack a sense of autonomy and independence. They have to rely on their parents or friends in their decision-making. They lack self-confidence and low self-efficacy.
Parents, teachers, and mentors play an imperative role in the identity vs. identity confusion stage. The role of caregivers is to enhance the growth and development of the teenagers. The caregivers ensure that the teenagers are able to transition the identity and identity confusion stage successfully. The successful transition is enhanced by a number of factors. Firstly, parents, teachers, and the mentors must be supportive. Instead of criticizing the teenagers for the unconventional behaviors, there is a need to understand and support the teenagers in the experimental stage. For instance, parents can allow the teenagers experiment new fashions, hairstyles, and other trends that do not pose any danger to their lives. However, parents ought to intervene in situations where teenagers engage in risky social and behaviors that are likely to compromise their health. Again, parents should demonstrate love and care even when they discourage their teenagers from engaging in undesirable and risky behavior. At this stage, teenagers expected their caregivers to explain to them why they (teenagers) should not engage in certain behavior.
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Parents and mentors are also important in fostering emotional stability in teenagers. Most of the teenagers will experience mixed emotions depending on how difficulty or easy it is to know who they are. Again, a significant number of the teenagers tend to be sexually active. Most of such teenagers suffer from anxiety, depression, and some of them have suicidal thoughts. Additionally, most of the teenagers who are sexually active tend to have guilty conscious. Therefore, mentors and parents have the responsibility of counseling their children. If the parent notices that the teenager is sexually active and he/she is feeling guilty and becomes emotionally stable, this is not the time to be judgmental and to withhold the love and affection. The parents need to use that opportunity to address risky behaviors, while at the same time helping the teenager know who they are.
The great grandparents and grandparents also have a role to play in identity formation. Grandparents and great grandparents have more experience and lessons about life, which they are able to share with their grandchildren (teenagers). One of the main strengths of the grandparents is that they are able to address even the most sensitive matters, especially on sexuality without fear. Most parents, especially the young ones, will tend to avoid sensitive topics, yet teenagers need that information in order to make the informed decisions. Personally, I have very supportive and understanding grandparents. When I closed school, I used to visit them. as a teenager, they knew almost everything that I was facing. They were able to touch on issues of sexuality, relationships, choices, and drug. I can confidently say that my grandparents played a significant role in the formation of my identity.
Adolescent Gender Identity
Gender identity is another challenge that faces a majority of the teenagers. Some teenagers are biologically male, but eternally, they feel that they perceive themselves to be either a female or both (Gender Spectrum, 2015). Gender identity crisis occurs when one is unable to have an exact concept of who they are in terms of gender. Gender identity may be fostered or suppressed by the societal expectation of how a male or female is supposed to behave. The social construction of reality concepts may have an effect on gender identity. In cultures where male and female roles are clearly defined and demarcated, the realization of gender identity may be hampered. For instance, the male who feel that he should behave and act as a lady will not be able to achieve his objective. The societal will condemn any behavior that is considered unnatural or against the social norms and beliefs. However, in the families and societies that enhances and support gender identity, teenagers make the right choices about who they want to become. As a result, a transgendered community is supported and tolerated. Therefore, teenagers are able to enjoy who they are and come out the crisis successfully.
The social environment plays a vital role in enhancing the gender identity as mentioned above. One of the main reasons why the teenagers tend to gravitate towards the gender-stereotyped behavior is to avoid being at a conflict with the society. The society has norms, beliefs, and values that determine how people should behave. In most traditional societies, male and female roles are also much defined. Men are perceived to be hardy, aggressive, and competitive. They are expected to be the leaders, protectors of their families, and breadwinners. Such stereotypes explain why most male teenagers tend to be rough and with very aggressive behavior. Females are expected to be tender, caring, and submissive. As such anyone who is a female is expected by the society to do and behave according to the existing values, beliefs, and norms.
Adolescent Sexuality
At adolescent, a significant number of the teenagers are sexually active. Some of them engage in risky sexual activities. For instance, they fail to use protection, which predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Rector, Kirk & Noyes, 2003). Sexually active teenagers are also in danger of becoming parents at a very young age. A cycle of poverty is likely to be observed, especially among teenagers who come from poor background. Engaging in sex during teen age has also been associated with depression and suicidal thoughts. Boys and girls who engage in sexual activities at teen age are more likely to suffer from depression compared to those that do not (Rector, Kirk & Noyes, 2003). For the girls, those who engage in sexual activities are three times more likely to experience depression than those who have abstained. The unhappy mood is mostly caused by guilty feelings. Most of the teenagers will condemn and feel bad about themselves because of engaging an activity that they have been told is bad and ‘sin.’ Again parents can assist teenagers to understand their sexuality and the best time to experiment. For those who are already sexually active, parents and other caregivers have a role to play in ensuring that the teenagers protect themselves against the sexually transmitted infections. Teenagers need information on safe sex, whether they are sexually active or not. The information assists them to make the right decisions regarding their sexuality.
There are emotional connections that may happen as a result of sexual activities. Teenagers are likely to be emotionally attached to the partners with whom they engage in sexual activities. However, most of such relationships do not last. When the relationships end, there is emotional pain. It may lead to risks of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide. The emotional pain may also lead the affected teenagers into drugs, smoking, and drinking. The teenager may also become unproductive, particularly in school. The teenager might start being at a conflict with the parents and the society.
Teenagers have also the tendency of getting so excited with whatever they are experiencing that they fail to make the right choices. Instead of teenagers stopping to engage in undesirable behavior, they go on regardless of the repercussions. One of the main contributing factors is the peer pressure. Teenagers want to have a sense of belonging and receive the benefits such as affection and approval in the peer groups. Secondly, teenagers are thrilled by what they do and it makes them to feel in control. As a YMCA counselor, I would educate parents how to become more effective in dealing with their teenagers. The assumption is that most parents do not know how to handle the teenagers when they begin manifesting some undesirable behavior. I would, therefore, encourage the parents to be patient with their teenagers, support them, guide them accordingly, and show them affection.
References
Gender Spectrum (2015). Teens: Understanding your Gender . Retrieved from https://www.genderspectrum.org/explore-topics/teens/
Hamman, D. & Hendricks, C. (2009). The Role of the Generations Identity Formation . Educational Psychology 23rd Ed. Article 9
Rector, R., Kirk, A., & Noyes, R. 2003). Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide , retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2003/06/sexually-active-teenagers-are-more-likely-to-be-depressed
