According to Chickering, itentity then is a primary element around which other vectors revolve. For Chickering, the quest for personal identity in self- understanding is a major life time developmental task. At that time when body changes are profound, genital maturity is developing, and other approaching issues of adulthood are eminent, one's focus turns to developing a sense of self. For Chickering, the changing, growing, physical body and self-probing questions about self become partially focused on one's presentation of self.
Appearance is both superficial and fundamental.
The superficiality is exhibited through style of dress and external appearances. More fundamental issues include feelings, questioning self-esteem, such as unattractiveness and worthlessness. In the establishment of identity, one's presentation of self is not overly influenced by current styles or by the dictates of peers or persons in authority. The second component of identity that Chickering specifically mentioned is sexual identification. He suggested the need for clarification of a male or female role and the need for clarification between heterosexuality and homosexuality.