Abstract
This study explored the relative importance of identity and intimacy in male and female adolescent decisions. One hundred twenty adolescents responded to 16 identity/intimacy dilemmas. Females had higher identity (and lower intimacy) scores than males. Identity scores were higher in scenarios with female protagonists. A content analysis of decision explanations showed females gave more explanations than males with identity and intimacy fused. Implications for theories of psychosocial development are discussed.
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Lacombe, A.C., Gay, J. The Role of Gender in Adolescent Identity and Intimacy Decisions. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 27, 795–802 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022818017385
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022818017385