Identity vs. Role Confusion in Psychosocial Development

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Identity and Role Confusion?Benefits of IdentityFactors Affecting Identity FormationConsequences of Role ConfusionHow to Strengthen IdentityHow to Decrease Role ConfusionNext in Psychosocial Development GuideIntimacy vs. Isolation: Forming Intimate Relationships With Others

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

What Are Identity and Role Confusion?

Benefits of Identity

Factors Affecting Identity Formation

Consequences of Role Confusion

How to Strengthen Identity

How to Decrease Role Confusion

Next in Psychosocial Development Guide

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Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee

Identity versus role confusion is the fifth stage of ego in psychologistErik Erikson’stheory ofpsychosocial development. This stage occurs during adolescence between the ages of approximately 12 and 18. During this stage, adolescents explore their independence and develop a sense of self.

According to Erikson, people progress through a series of stages as they grow and change throughout life. During each stage, everyone faces a developmental conflict that must be resolved to successfully develop the primary virtue of that stage. Erikson was interested in how social interaction and relationships affect development and growth.

At a GlancePsychosocial conflict: Identity vs. role confusionMajor question: “Who am I?“Basic virtue: FidelityImportant event(s): Social relationships

At a Glance

Psychosocial conflict: Identity vs. role confusionMajor question: “Who am I?“Basic virtue: FidelityImportant event(s): Social relationships

As they transition from childhood to adulthood, teens may begin to feel confused or insecure about themselves and how they fit into society. As they seek to establish a sense of self, teens may experiment with different roles, activities, and behaviors. According to Erikson, this is important to the process of forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life.

One of the main elements of Erikson’s psychosocial stage theory is the development of ego identity. It is the conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction, which is constantly changing due to new experiences and information we acquire in our daily interactions with others.

Identity

Erikson defines identity as a “fundamental organizing principal which develops constantly throughout the lifespan.”

Identity involves the experiences, relationships, beliefs, values, and memories that make up a person’s subjective sense of self. This helps create a continuous self-image that remains fairly constant even as new aspects of the self are developed or strengthened over time. Identity provides:

During the identity vs. role confusion stage, the conflict is centered on developing a personal identity. Successfully completing this stage leads to a strong sense of self that will remain throughout life.

Role Confusion

Kids who are not allowed to explore and test out different identities might be left with what Erikson referred to as role confusion, which can result in the following:

Other Influences on Identity

Some more recent theories have focused on the importance of social identity and how those identities, and the intersection of those identities, influence the development of individual identity and roles.

There are numerous benefits to shaping and forming an identity.

Commitment

Resolving the crisis at this stage of development involves committing to a particular identity. This might involve committing to a career path, deciding what social groups to associate with, and even developing a sense of personal style.

Self-Confidence

Those who are able to develop a strong sense of identity are better able to haveself-confidence, or a sense of trust in their abilities, qualities, and judgments.

Sense of Independence

Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will remaininsecureand confused about themselves and the future.

Fidelity

Better Mental Health and Relationships

Research has shown that teens who have a strong sense of identity have better mental health. They are also more likely to have good relationships with their peers, and have better emotional andpsychological well-being.

Researchers have found that people who enter young adulthood with a strong sense of identity are also more successful in subsequent stages of life, including intimacy, generativity, and integrity.

There are various factors that contribute to whether a person forms a strong identity. Friends, family, schoolmates, other social groups, societal trends, and pop culture all play a role in shaping and forming identity.

Different identities can also intersect to shape a person’s overall sense of self.

Stages of Identity Development

In Marcia’s theory, identity forms as a result of exploring different identity alternatives and then making commitments to different ideas and values. These four statuses are:

Role confusion can have lasting consequences on a person’s life, including:

How to Recognize and Cope With an Identity Crisis

No matter where you are in your life, there are things you can do to help build a stronger sense of identity. For example, thinking about what your values are helps solidify your identity. Core values are those things that are really important and meaningful to you and thatmotivateyou and guide your decisions.

It’s important to spendtime aloneto get to know yourself better. Those quiet moments can help you focus on your priorities and improve your sense of self. Relatedly, learn to practiceself-compassion, which can help you better understand and accept your flaws and limitations.

Become skilled at things you enjoy. Taking time to find and practice hobbies can help you get greater acquainted with yourself.

If you’re feeling confused about who you are and your role in life, there are steps you can take to decrease role confusion.

Build On Your Strengths

Identify the areas in your life in which you excel, and take time to develop and build on those strengths. As you work on developing those skills even more, you may find other aspects of yourself that are also important to your identity.

Try New Things to Discover What You Like

Beopen to trying new thingsand having new experiences. Think about your passions and interests. Brainstorm some ideas around things that excite you.

Sometimes you might try things and decide you don’t like them. That’s also part of personal growth. It helps you clarify what matters to your identity and eliminates feelings of confusion.

Make Commitments and Set Goals

While you canset goals in any part of your life, consider thinking about some common areas like health, career, finances, and education. Having goals gives you a better sense of what you want to work toward and whichaspirationsare central to your sense of self.

Participate in Activities Related to Your Interests

If you or a loved one are struggling with identity issues that are creating distress or affecting your ability to cope with life,, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with identity issues that are creating distress or affecting your ability to cope with life,, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sand CD, Rahbek K, Willadsen TG, Jønsson AR.Prioritizing social identities: Patients' perspective on living with multimorbidity.J Comorb. 2021;11:26335565211009375. doi:10.1177/26335565211009375Arnold ME.Supporting adolescent exploration and commitment: Identity formation, thriving, and positive youth development.J Youth Dev.2017;12(4):1-15. doi:10.5195/jyd.2017.522Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: A systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.Mitchell LL, Lodi-Smith J, Baranski EN, Whitbourne SK.Implications of identity resolution in emerging adulthood for intimacy, generativity, and integrity across the adult lifespan.Psychol Aging. 2021;36(5):545-556. doi:10.1037/pag0000537Marcia JE.Development and validation of ego-identity status.J Pers Soc Psychol. 1966;3(5):551-558. doi:10.1037/h0023281Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: a systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.Block M.Identity versus role confusion. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:785-786. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1447Additional ReadingErikson EH.Childhood and Society, 2nd ed.Norton; 1963.Erikson EH.Identity: Youth and Crisis. Norton; 1968.Erikson EH.The Life Cycle Completed. Norton; 1982.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sand CD, Rahbek K, Willadsen TG, Jønsson AR.Prioritizing social identities: Patients' perspective on living with multimorbidity.J Comorb. 2021;11:26335565211009375. doi:10.1177/26335565211009375Arnold ME.Supporting adolescent exploration and commitment: Identity formation, thriving, and positive youth development.J Youth Dev.2017;12(4):1-15. doi:10.5195/jyd.2017.522Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: A systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.Mitchell LL, Lodi-Smith J, Baranski EN, Whitbourne SK.Implications of identity resolution in emerging adulthood for intimacy, generativity, and integrity across the adult lifespan.Psychol Aging. 2021;36(5):545-556. doi:10.1037/pag0000537Marcia JE.Development and validation of ego-identity status.J Pers Soc Psychol. 1966;3(5):551-558. doi:10.1037/h0023281Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: a systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.Block M.Identity versus role confusion. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:785-786. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1447Additional ReadingErikson EH.Childhood and Society, 2nd ed.Norton; 1963.Erikson EH.Identity: Youth and Crisis. Norton; 1968.Erikson EH.The Life Cycle Completed. Norton; 1982.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Sand CD, Rahbek K, Willadsen TG, Jønsson AR.Prioritizing social identities: Patients' perspective on living with multimorbidity.J Comorb. 2021;11:26335565211009375. doi:10.1177/26335565211009375Arnold ME.Supporting adolescent exploration and commitment: Identity formation, thriving, and positive youth development.J Youth Dev.2017;12(4):1-15. doi:10.5195/jyd.2017.522Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: A systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.Mitchell LL, Lodi-Smith J, Baranski EN, Whitbourne SK.Implications of identity resolution in emerging adulthood for intimacy, generativity, and integrity across the adult lifespan.Psychol Aging. 2021;36(5):545-556. doi:10.1037/pag0000537Marcia JE.Development and validation of ego-identity status.J Pers Soc Psychol. 1966;3(5):551-558. doi:10.1037/h0023281Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: a systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.Block M.Identity versus role confusion. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:785-786. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1447

Sand CD, Rahbek K, Willadsen TG, Jønsson AR.Prioritizing social identities: Patients' perspective on living with multimorbidity.J Comorb. 2021;11:26335565211009375. doi:10.1177/26335565211009375

Arnold ME.Supporting adolescent exploration and commitment: Identity formation, thriving, and positive youth development.J Youth Dev.2017;12(4):1-15. doi:10.5195/jyd.2017.522

Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: A systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.

Mitchell LL, Lodi-Smith J, Baranski EN, Whitbourne SK.Implications of identity resolution in emerging adulthood for intimacy, generativity, and integrity across the adult lifespan.Psychol Aging. 2021;36(5):545-556. doi:10.1037/pag0000537

Marcia JE.Development and validation of ego-identity status.J Pers Soc Psychol. 1966;3(5):551-558. doi:10.1037/h0023281

Ragelienė T.Links of adolescents identity development and relationship with peers: a systematic literature review.J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.

Block M.Identity versus role confusion. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:785-786. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1447

Erikson EH.Childhood and Society, 2nd ed.Norton; 1963.Erikson EH.Identity: Youth and Crisis. Norton; 1968.Erikson EH.The Life Cycle Completed. Norton; 1982.

Erikson EH.Childhood and Society, 2nd ed.Norton; 1963.

Erikson EH.Identity: Youth and Crisis. Norton; 1968.

Erikson EH.The Life Cycle Completed. Norton; 1982.

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