Adolescence is the crucial stage of life and the time to explore one’s identity. Teenagers experience rapid changes in body, hormones, emotions and cognitive abilities during adolescence. At the same time, they realize their roles in society including their careers, values and gender role. During this stage adolescents are faced with physical growth, maturity and integrating ideas of themselves and about what other people think of them. There they wish to discover their identity during their teenage years.
During teenage years many students face identity crises. An identity crisis is a necessary turning point and a crucial moment in teenage life. Erik Erikson an American psychologist has coined the term ‘Identity Crisis’. According to Erikson, “an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself.” An identity crisis is the failure to achieve ego and identity during adolescence. An identity crisis occurs at any time in adult years when faced with a challenge to our sense of self. Those who are in an identity crisis are in confusion. They often seem to have no idea who or what they are, where they belong and where they want to go. They withdraw from normal life and do not take any interest in schools and colleges.
They remain in a permanent state of crisis and aspire to achieve fame in the public and among their contemporaries. If they are unable to become popular, they join some groups to satisfy their ego needs. Adolescents therefore form their self-image and endure the task of resolving the crisis of their basic ego identity in multiple ways. To deal with identity crises, they often turn to negative activities like indulging in drugs. Everything during adolescence stems from curiosity like smoking, drinking and inclination towards watching pornographic videos. Gadget haze is also seen at its threshold during adolescence which hinders face-to-face communication.
If someone has an identity crisis, it is more susceptible for him to have a negative identity than no identity at all. Peers have a strong impact on the development of ego identity during adolescence. They form an association with negative groups like drug addicts for developing ego during adolescence. If a person faces these crises he loses interest in the values of life.
Today, youths developing self-image deviate from the normal course of life and often go astray. It is important to think about the identity during teenage period. One should possess a strong identity. A strong identity emerges not only from the contemplation of life’s purpose but also from successfully positively adapting developmental challenges of life.
Developing a self-image and achieving fame is necessary but one should not compromise with one's integrity and values. Adolescents should always try to communicate with their elders and accept the roles and values handed down by their parents.
Parents should always assist their children if they face any kind of confusion or crisis. They should ensure that their children are not involved in negative activities and wrong groups. Students should also not focus only on making identity and fame instead should make persistent efforts to achieve their goals. They must understand their roles as an adolescent. They should spend time with positive people, acquire knowledge, skills and values, and learn new and innovative things. This will take them to new heights and they will get success and recognition in the world.
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