Identity versus Role Confusion

This article explores the fifth stage of Erikson's psychosocial development theory, which is identity versus role confusion. It discusses how individuals at this stage, between the ages of 11 and 18, develop a sense of stable identity and the challenges they face in finding themselves. The article also examines how this stage fits into Bronfenbrenner's model of human ecological development. Read more on Desklib.

Running head: IDENTITY VERSUS ROLE CONFUSION 1
Identity versus Role Confusion
By (Student’s Name)
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IDENTITY VERSUS ROLE CONFUSION
Introduction
Erikson developed psychosocial development theory which explains how human beings
develop before reaching maturity. In his theory, Erickson proposed that human beings evolve
through a series of eight steps in life. According to the psychologist, identity, selfhood,
independence, and self-worth of a child can either be developed in these stages or crushed
depending on how an individual can resolve issues present at each stage. The content of this
paper is, therefore, research on the fifth stage of Erickson's psychosocial development stages that
is identity versus role confusion. The article further analyses the stages with relation to
Bronfenbrenner theory of development.
Identity versus role confusion
According to Erickson, the fifth stages of psychosocial development is identity versus
role confusion. The psychologist explained in his school of thought that at the age of between 11
and 18 years, children undergo a transition from childhood to adulthood (Desai, 2018).
Following Erikson's writings, the stage can as well be referred to as adolescence stage. He
explains that at this stage, children become more independent in society and experiments with
various roles in the attempt to find possible selves (Sigelman & Rider, 2018). The main
objective of individuals at this stage is to become independent with a sense of stable ability.
Conversely, this stage may become challenging as confusion may set in as one tries to
find a stable self. Erikson also came up with smaller stages within this stage explaining what a
child must do to become an adult fully. At early adulthood, individuals must positively pass the
challenge of developing stable relationships with others.

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Individuals at this stage are presented with the challenge of finding themselves. Different
unpredictable behaviors characterize adolescent behaviors. According to Erickson's
psychological development model, all these unpredictable behaviors are towards the
identification of one's self (Cherry, 2017). Based on other existing theories, a crisis occurs at this
stage which results in the various behaviors of individuals at this stage. This crisis comes in
when an individual believes and that which they have known for an extended period is
challenged by multiple values which force them to reevaluate themselves.
Therefore, at this points, individuals want more support as they are challenged by what
exists around them. To this manner, the existing evidence shows that the environment has a more
significant impact on individuals at this particular stage. Notably, to ideally find a personal
identity, family members and parents have a more substantial impact on helping individuals at
this age to identify themselves (Sigelman & Rider, 2018). This is because family members exert
an influence that helps individuals at this age to change their views on society as a whole and
themselves. Moreover, other external factors within an individual's surrounding such as friends,
school mates, society norms and existing trends in the society also help with self-identification at
the adolescent stage (Crocetti, 2017).
According to Erick as well as other scholars who came after him, at this stage, those
individuals who receive proper reinforcement and encouragement will always gain a sense of
self-independent, courageous, secure with the feeling of control. On the other hand, those
individuals who lack support and reinforcement remain unsure of themselves, insecure as well as
confused about who they are and who they will be in the future (Dunkel & Harbke, 2017).
Moreover, existing studies expanding on the Erikson's idea shows that resolving crisis related to
identity at this stage is to commit to a particular role and status. For instance, a specific career

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path, deciding on who to relate to and associate with or even gaining a sense in a particular style
and fashion.
How identity versus role confusion fits in Bronfenbrenner model
Apart from Erikson, another psychologist came after him presenting his school of
thoughts. Bronfenbrenner is another scholar who came up with a model of development known
as the human ecological development approach (Bronfenbrenner, 2018). According to
Bronfenbrenner, identity can be studied in an environmental framework. Bronfenbrenner
development model has four major nested types of systems. According to the writings of Urie
Bronfenbrenner, an individual’s identity is shaped up by various factors within the environment.
He categorized these environmental factors into four significant systems as mentioned;
microsystem which is the most immediate factors, mesosystem involving the interaction is
Microsystems, exosystem which are indirect ecological factors such as neighborhood and finally,
macrosystem which involves the large community such as socio-cultural practices. According to
the Bronfenbrenner development human development of identity is influenced by all the
ecological factors existing within the four systems (Cross, 2017). Relating this to the Erikson's
stage of identity versus role confusion, both scholars believed that at the age of between 11 and
18, environmental factors have an impact of an individual's development.
According to Urie, at the adolescent stage, individuals struggle with the development of
stable self-identity. Therefore, the contribution of the people within the microsystem and
mesosystem contributes a lot to their development. Similar to Erikson, Bronfenbrenner models
illustrate that family members, friends school and parents contribute to the individual's identity
development (Dimitrova et al. 2018). An individual who receives support from microsystem and
mesosystem develops positive self-identity while the one who lacks the same grows up confused.

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Moreover, it evident from other scholars that people tend to form multiple identities as a result of
the surrounding and the environment (Sigelman & Rider, 2018).
This sets in motion an argument that exosystem that’s the neighborhood and
macrosystem that is socio-culture context influences an individual's identity and role
identification. The environment presents one with various social roles, and within these roles in
the social context lies a particular identity. Therefore, an individual's commitment to a specific
role in the society results in a stable self-identification while negative interaction within the
human ecological systems may lead to role confusion (Sigelman & Rider, 2018).
Conclusion
Erikson came up with eight psychosocial development stages in which identity versus
role confusion is the fifth stage. This stage occurs at the adolescent stage at the age of between
11 and 18 years. According to the study context, individuals at this stage develop a sense of
stable and secure identity with the support of both micro and macrosystem interactions.
Conversely, individuals without reinforcement and support are likely to end up with confused
self-identity.
Moreover, identity versus role confusion fits in Bronfenbrenner development model
relating to the reinforcement and support. Urie Bronfenbrenner just as Erickson believed that
factors within the environment influence an individual's development. Thus these theories
support each other concerning identity development.

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References
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Crocetti, E. (2017). Identity formation in adolescence: The dynamic of forming and
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