Child and Adolescent Psychology
Instructions: 1.Describe common rites of passage from two cultures around the world and compare them to a common American rite of passage. Possible resources might include National Geographic and the Argosy University Online Library.
2.Compare and contrast these rites to common US rites of passage. Do they coincide with the physical, cognitive, or socioemotional changes taking place at this age? Describe which specific changes (physical, cognitive, or socioemotional) they coincide with. Does this explain their importance in a particular culture?
3.How might such a social ritual, such as a rite of passage, influence the identity formation process of adolescents?
4.In light of Erikson and Marcia’s theories, discuss how the process of identity development is affected when the adolescent belongs to a minority group (racial, ethnic, sexual, or religious). Be sure to explain these theories and how they apply to identity development.
5.Summarize research from at least two peer-reviewed*studies on the effect of minority status on identity development, ensuring you describe the main findings of the study as well as the research methods used to study the topic.
Solution.
Child and Adolescent Psychology
Identity Formation
Identity formation is essential for the well-being of adolescents in the life process. Rites of passage on the other hand as a method of transition from the onset of the group to another set of the group have considerably contributed to the Identity formation processes of individuals socioemotionally, cognitively and physically. Identity formation refers to as the ability of a person to identify his/herself with the people around him or with his/herself.
Rites of passage are practiced by many cultures around the world. Most the African cultures practice circumcision or tooth removal. These methods are meant to prepare the teenager for the adult life. American modern rites of passage are rather too light compared to the other cultures’. To add on other rites of passage are physical as compared to the American one. There is no physical pain or mark in American rites. Rites of passage have effects on the shaping of an individual identity pattern.
Erikson fifth stage of development, Identity Vs Role Confusion, states that a teenager will strive to try out on activities that he or she wants to be in future. Parents are advised to encourage the children in the commitments to those desires they want. Better choices will be made, hence better identification of oneself. On the other hand, Marcia, a Canadian psychologist improved on Erik Ericson theory by coming up with four steps that a teenager has to undergo to reach identity achievement. Both theorists agree that if the identity is not achieved the individual will develop difficulties in the future life.
Minority group such as ethnicity have been linked to showing a parallel relationship with self-esteem,
confidence. (Martinez & Dukes, 1997). Such groups are
catalysts to the process identity formation. If one is aware of his group and
understands every role well, he/ she will
be able to from identity patterns essayer than those who are not conscious of the ethnic group (Phinney,
1989).
Identity formation is an important part of
our day to day life. It shapes our future; it shapes what we are. We can find
commonality in identity formation regarding
our minority groups.
References
Martinez, R. O., & Dukes, R. L. (1997). The Effects of Ethnic Identity, Ethnicity, and Gender on Adolescent Well-Being. Journal of youth and adolescence, 26(5), 503-516.
Mudege, N. N., Egondi, T., Beguy, D., & Zulu, E. M. (2012). The Determinants of Female Circumcision among Adolescents from Communities that practice Female Circumcision in Two Nairobi Informal Settlements. Health Sociology Review, 21(2), 242-250.
Phinney, J. S. (1989). Stages of Ethnic Identity Development in Minority Group Adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 9(1-2), 34-49.
