Adolescence : the period of

transition from childhood

to adulthood
Physical development
during adolescence
 Physical changes during
puberty for boys
- Height and weight increase
- Body hair grows in the pubic area,
under the arms, and on the face, and
becomes thicker on the legs
- Muscles become stronger
- Vocal cords get thicker and longer –
boys’ voices deepen
- The body develops an increased
number of red blood cells
- Sweat and oil glands become more
active; body odor changes
- Acne can develop

- Some boys develop small and

temporary breast tissue

- Reproductive system begins to work

Physical changes during
puberty for girls
- Breasts develop
- Height and weight increase
- Hips and waist become more defined
- Menstruation begins
- Mood changes may occur
- Body hair grows in the pubic area, under the
arms, and becomes thicker on the arms and legs

- Muscles become stronger

- Fat tissue normally increases

- Vocal cords get thicker and longer

- Sweat and oil glands become more
active; body odor changes

- Acne may develop

- Reproductive system matures

 Marcia’s Identity
Crisis Theory (stages)

- He arrived at 4 identity statuses

or positions, based on whether
the person perceives an identity
issue and whether a resolution
has been reached.
- These identity statuses are ways to
resolve the identity crisis and to
establish a commitment to this
identity.
Commitment: the decisions made
throughout one’s life that
determines “who” that person will
be.
*Commitments include occupation,
religion, philosophy, sex roles or
personal standard of sexual
behavior.*
Identity Crisis: the active process
of self-definition

- “Who am I?”

- “Where am I going?”
 Identity Diffusion

-This is Marcia’s term for what Erikson

calls identity confusion.

- Some have had an identity crisis,

others have not.
- They still have no integrated sense
of themselves.

- They do not show interest in

occupational or ideological choices.
 Identity Foreclosure
- The status where adolescents are
already committed to occupational
and ideological positions but have
not gone through an identity crisis.

- The adolescent accepts what others

have chosen for him or her.
- The adolescent has not had any
opportunity to experience
alternatives.
 Identity Moratorium

- The adolescent is in the midst of an

identity crisis.
- They are seeking for answers but
have not yet resolved the conflicts
between their parents’ plans for
them and their own interests.
- They may express a set of political
or religious beliefs with great
intensity for a while, only to abandon
them after a period of
reconsideration.
- At best, they seem sensitive, ethical,
and open-minded
- At worst, they appear anxiety-
ridden, self-righteous, and vacillating
 Identity Achievement
- Adolescents in this status have
passed through an identity crisis.
- They have explored different roles
and opportunities; they have made
decisions for themselves.
 References:
 Atkinson and Hilgard’s Introduction to
Psychology
 http://www.4parents.gov/sexdevt/boysmen/ind
ex.html

 http://www.4parents.gov/sexdevt/girlswomen/
 -
http://www.helium.com/items/1560359-marcia
s-four-identity-statuses