Erikson would have suggested that adolescents can most effectively develop a sense of identity by
A) seeking a lifelong romantic relationship.
B) severing the emotional ties between themselves and their childhood friends.
C) investigating the personal suitability of various occupational and social roles.
D) adopting whatever values and expectations their parents recommend.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development suggests that during adolescence, individuals must grapple with the issue of identity versus role confusion. The adolescent must explore different social and occupational roles in order to develop a sense of identity. This process involves experimenting with different values, beliefs, and preferences in order to determine which ones are most important and relevant to their personal identity. It is not effective for adolescents to simply adopt the values of their parents or to sever emotional ties with childhood friends. Seeking a lifelong romantic relationship may also be important for some adolescents but it is not the main factor in developing a sense of identity.

Erikson Would Have Suggested That Adolescents Can Most Effectively Develop