Chapter 16

AdolescentPsychosocial Development

Michael Hoerger

Identity and the Self

Definition: consistent view of one’s self, including values, beliefs, attitudes, roles, and aspirations

From the book… Possible Selves: one’s potential identities False Selves: when one’s behavior is

inconsistent with their self identitySometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful

Additional types of Selves

Ideal Self: who you wish you could be Ought Self: who others wish you could be Actual Self: who you consider yourself to be

(your identity)

Psychopathology is related to a discrepancy between the actual self and the ought or ideal self

Suicide

90% admit to thinking about suicide at some point in their lives

10% of adolescents attempt suicide

Parasuicide: any self-harm behavior that does not result in death (includes nonfatal suicide attempts)

Suicide

Adolescents are more likely to attempt, adults more likely to die

Females are more likely to attempt, makes more likely to die

Males = anger; females = shame Worldwide, people of European ancestry

are most likely to commit suicide

Michael Hoerger

To cite this textbook: Berger, K. (2005). The developing person

through the lifespan. New York: Worth.

To cite this lecture: Hoerger, M. (2007, March 19).

Developmental Psychology: Adolescent Psychosocial Development. Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University.