why did erikson believe it was important for teens to develop a clear sense of self
According to Erikson's theory, the way a person resolves the crisis will determine their personal identity and future development. In this article we limit our discussion to the crises of adolescence but more complete information about Erikson's theory can be found in the Introduction to Child Development article. The first crisis typically occurs during early to middle adolescence, and is called the crisis of identity versus identity confusion.