[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Developmental Stage: Adolescence
Adolescence developmental stage is the time when adolescents develop a sense of self. They tend to question who they are and what they want to do with their lives. They will associate all of their past experiences and distinguish their various roles up until that moment (dependent child, autonomy, initiative and achievement) into a secure identity role. If unresolved past crises have followed them into stage five, they will experience identity as role confusion.
In other words, they will have no idea of who they are or what they would like to be. Peter Pan, the fairytale story of the childlike individual who refused to grow up, is a perfect example of this role confusion. These individuals are constantly looking for their affectional needs to be met through other relationships (Blackstone, Elissa, 2000). Just as Peter Pan looked to Wendy for affection and nurturance, these individuals do the same because they lack self-soothing skills. They also have no confidence in themselves and fear exploring new situations and meeting new people.
All of the tasks that have been mastered up until this point mark the way into this transitional stage. The attachment and bonding that the infant learned in infancy during stage one provides the security that is now needed to relate to the opposite sex. The ability to set boundaries and say no from stage two provides the structure needed to establish sexual boundaries. The sexual exploration experienced by the child during stage three and the reaction of Mom and Dad will help determine a positive or negative self-perception regarding the body as good or bad (Blackstone, Elissa, 2000). Stage four taught the youngster social and educational skills in grade school which will now determine the attitude towards future academic education and the social path to follow. Any of the previous tasks that was difficult to master will now affect the transition into adolescence.....
