Describe Erikson's psychosocial crisis of adolescence and Marcia's four identify statuses. During adolescence, the psychosocial crisis is identity versus diffusion. The significant social relationships of adolescents are their peer groups and outgroups and their choice of leadership models. They have an integrated image of oneself as a unique person. Marcia suggested that there are actually four possible outcomes of the psychosocial crisis of adolescence instead of just the two Erickson proposed.
Identity diffusion involves an inability to make identity commitments.
Discuss how gender roles influence adolescent development. Discuss whether adolescence is a period of emotional turmoil. There is evidence that adolescents do seem to experience more stress and more negative emotions than younger children. There is a modest increase in parent-adolescent conflict. On the whole, the evidence indicates that a majority of teenagers make it through adolescence without any more turmoil than one is likely to encounter in other periods of life.