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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development pp 785–786Cite as

Identity Versus Role Confusion

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Definition

As articulated by Erik Erikson, Identity versus Role Confusion is the fifth of eight stages of psychosocial development that take place between the ages of 12 and 19. During this stage adolescents need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to oneself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. In the latter phases of this stage, the child develops a sense of sexual identity.

Description

Erik Erikson explains eight stages through which a healthy developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds on the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future.

The Identity versus Role confusion (or diffusion) stage is characterized by the adolescent question of “Who am I,” during which time they are conflicted with...

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References

  1. Clifton, A., & Davis, D. (1995). Psychosocial theory: Erikson. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from Haverford University, Department of Psychology Web site: http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/erikson.stages.html

  2. Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: Norton.

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  3. Erikson, E. H. (1959). Identity and the life cycle. New York: International Universities Press.

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  4. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity, youth and crisis. New York: Norton.

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  5. Sheehy, G. (1976). Passages: Predictable crises of adult life. New York: E. P. Dutton.

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  6. Stevens, R. (1983). Erik Erikson: An introduction. New York: St. Martin’s.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School Counseling & School Psychology, Azusa Pacific University, 901 East Alosta Ave, P.O. Box 7000, Azusa, CA, 91702-7000, USA

    Michael Block

Authors
  1. Michael Block
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Block, M. (2011). Identity Versus Role Confusion. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1447

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1447

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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