Influences on identity

The development of a personal identity or self-concept requires the adolescent to develop a set of ideas that describes their sense of independence, sexuality, body image and their friends.

Between 11 to 13 years this development usually centres around developing a new self-image due to the rapid physical and physiological changes that are occurring. There is also a need to make use of the newly acquired skills of logical thinking and increasing ability to make rational judgements.

By mid-adolescence, 14 to 16 year-olds strive to loosen their ties to parents. They become more adventurous and experiment with different ideas. This plays a crucial part in defining their relationship with themselves, with peer groups, and with the opposite sex. They integrate others’ opinions and benefit from interactions with diverse groups to test their ideas. During this time the adolescent may battle over their own set of values, versus those established by parents or other authority groups. Testing limits and pushing boundaries, they also begin to take control of school choices such as which subjects to study and how they'll spend their time outside school. During this time their self-dependence and a sense of responsibility becomes more obvious along with their need to find their place in society. At the end of this stage they are moving away from the earlier, more child-like, pattern of self-gratification towards a more adult pattern of giving and caring.