Abstract
This study concerns the relationship between friendship variables and adolescent psychosocial development, in particular identity and psychosocial intimacy as envisaged by E. Erikson [(1950), Childhood and Society, New York: Norton; (1968), Identity: Youth and Crisis, New York: Norton]. Two hundred and twenty-three secondary school and college students were surveyed regarding friendship networks, beliefs about friendship, functions of friendship in general, and aspects of a best friendship. Intimacy and identity measures were obtained using the Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory [D. Rosenthal, R. Gurney, and S. Moore (1981), “From Trust to Intimacy: A New Measure for Examining Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development,” Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Vol. 10, pp. 525–537]. Four developmental style groups (Dual High Scorers, High Identity, High Intimacy, and Dual Low Scorers) were formed from these measures. There were no differences between the sexes in their choice of developmental style. Those in the high-identity-high-intimacy and the high-identity-low-intimacy groups were more satisfied with their friendships, which appeared affectively richer. Sex differences showed that while friendship variables were more strongly associated with development for boys, girls viewed their relationships as closer and ascribed more importance to this closeness.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
