Identity Consolidation Research Articles

Trouble at teens' fingertips: Youth sexting and the law.

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the use of smartphones among young children and adolescents. One consequence of this phenomenon is sexting. Although researchers of sexting have yet to arrive at a single, cohesive definition for the behavior, it generally involves the transmission of text, pictures, or videos containing sexual material. Different definitions of the behavior have led to widely varying estimates of its prevalence, although some studies have documented relatively high rates of sexting among teenagers. As adolescence is the time period in people's lives where the psychological tasks of identity consolidation and the development of intimate relationships become primary, it is not surprising that many teens utilize sexting as one way of practicing skills associated with successful completion of these tasks. The criminal prosecution of sexting cases, then, raises many legal and ethical questions. Offenders may be prosecuted under state or federal child pornography laws or state-specific sexting laws. Sexting laws, particularly in instances of consensual sext exchange, call into question who they are meant to protect and from what. In this article we review the research on teen sexting, its prevalence, and its association with mental health problems; summarize legal responses to the behavior in the United States; and identify considerations for prosecutors and legal decision-makers facing sexting cases.

A Cross-Cultural Perspective on the Relationships between Emotional Separation, Parental Trust, and Identity in Adolescents.

Emotional separation and parental trust in parent-adolescent relationships are important factors for adolescent identity formation. However, prior research findings on emotional separation are inconsistent. This study aimed to conduct a more rigorous examination of the associations of emotional separation and parental trust with identity synthesis, confusion, and consolidation by applying a bi-factor model to identity, using adolescent samples from Lithuania (N = 610; 53.9% female; M age = 14.92), Italy (N = 411; 57.4% female; M age = 15.03), and Japan (N = 759; 43.7% female; M age = 14.13). Structural equation modeling revealed that emotional separation and parental trust were consistently associated with identity consolidation across the three countries, rather than associated with identity synthesis and identity confusion. Furthermore, the patterns of associations of emotional separation and parental trust with identity synthesis and identity confusion differed across the three nations. Overall, this study provides a better understanding of the role of emotional separation and parental trust in adolescent identity formation by suggesting the importance of the identity consolidation in the association between parent-child relationships and identity formation across three countries.

The Dutch Self-Concept and Identity Measure (SCIM): Factor structure and associations with identity dimensions and psychopathology

Identity formation is a lifelong developmental process. Neo-Eriksonian researchers have primarily focused on normative identity exploration and commitment, while overlooking clinical identity disturbance and disorder. As a result, developmental and clinical conceptualizations of identity are largely disconnected. The Self-Concept and Identity Measure (SCIM; Kaufman, Cundiff, & Crowell, 2015) is a self-report questionnaire assessing identity consolidation, identity disturbance, and lack of identity. This instrument facilitates identifying both developmentally-appropriate and clinical-pathological identity functioning. Using three samples of Flemish individuals (totaling 1087 participants; between 18 and 67years; 66.33% female), this study examined the factor structure and reliability of a Dutch version of the SCIM. Furthermore, associations with (1) identity dimensions of exploration and commitment, and (2) symptoms of anxiety, depression, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) were investigated by means of self-report questionnaires. We replicated the three-factor structure of the SCIM in each sample. All scales showed adequate internal consistency coefficients. In line with expectations, differential associations of SCIM scales were obtained with identity dimensions and psychopathological outcomes. The present findings underscore the importance of focusing on Eriksonian notions of identity synthesis and confusion, as well as on more severe forms of identity problems, as captured by SCIM's lack of identity scale.

Longitudinal Links Between Identity Consolidation and Psychosocial Problems in Adolescence: Using Bi-Factor Latent Change and Cross-Lagged Effect Models.

Most previous identity research has focused on relationships between identity synthesis, confusion, and psychosocial problems. However, these studies did not take into account Erikson's notion of identity consolidation, that is, the dynamic interplay between identity synthesis and confusion. This study aimed to examine longitudinal relationships and the directionality of the effects between identity consolidation and psychosocial problems during adolescence, using two waves of longitudinal data from 793 Japanese adolescents (49.7% girls; ages 13-14 and 16-17 at Time 1). A bi-factor latent change model revealed that levels and changes in identity consolidation were negatively associated with levels and changes in psychosocial problems. Furthermore, a bi-factor cross-lagged effects model provided evidence that identity consolidation negatively predicted psychosocial problems, and vice versa. Our study facilitates a better understanding of the importance of identity consolidation in the relations between identity components and psychosocial problems.

Understanding the Communication Strategies of the UAE

In attempt to understand the main characteristics of UAE communications strategy, this research discusses UAE media in light of three frameworks; soft power, identity consolidation and agenda setting. The researcher interviews communication professionals of different backgrounds, asking them questions related to the frameworks of the study. interviewees remarks are consistent with the findings the findings of this research; media is an integral tool in the consolidation of national and cultural identity, the UAE is developing its soft power through traditional strategies such as broadcast and innovative strategies such as media free zones, last but not least, there is an agenda setting aspect to the yearly themes.

Identity Statuses and Event-Focused Narratives at University Starting Point in Italy

The purpose of this study was to explore in greater depth the identity formation processes in Italian university students starting from previous studies that have provided support for a “postponed Identity”. Given the particular socio-economic difficulties of the Italian context, especially occupational uncertainty, this study assumes that the years of university for Italian students are rather like a time of standby, a period when students are allowed to remain in moratorium (institutionalized) or diffusion statuses and disengage from tasks related to personal and professional identity consolidation. For this purpose, the study focuses initially on the person-centred approach by measuring identity statuses in students attending the first 2 years of university and in students attending the fourth and fifth years of university. Subsequently, it focuses on the first 2 years of university through an event-focused approach, exploring narrative accounts of memorable daily life events perceived as important for identity construction, and to deepen our understanding of the subjective dimension of personal changes. Based on five identity dimensions, the cluster analysis indicated that six identity statuses could be extracted for both students groups: achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, diffused diffusion, carefree diffusion and undifferentiated. Each of these clusters revealed a distinct profile in terms of narrative universes of meaning. The study explored associations between narratives, reflecting a particular focus on the identity content and identity statuses. Suggestions for future research and limitations are discussed.

How risk perception shapes collective action intentions in repressive contexts: A study of Egyptian activists during the 2013 post-coup uprising.

Social psychological research has overlooked collective action in repressive contexts, where activists face substantial personal risks. This paper examines the social psychological processes motivating activists to engage in collective action in risky contexts. We investigate the idea that perceived risks due to government sanctions can galvanize action through fuelling anger, shaping efficacy beliefs, and increasing identification with the movement. We also argue that anger, efficacy, and identification motivate action intentions directly and indirectly through reducing the personal importance activists attach to these risks. We tested our hypotheses within a sample of Egyptian activists (N=146) from two protest movements who protested against Morsi's government and the military interventions, respectively, during the 2013 anticoup uprising. In line with our hypotheses, the perceived likelihood of risks was positively associated with anger and identity consolidation efficacy and positively predicted action intentions indirectly through these variables. Risk was also associated with increased political efficacy, but only among antimilitary protesters. Anger and political efficacy predicted action intentions directly and indirectly through reduced risk importance. Results also highlighted differential significance of emotional and instrumental motives for the two protest movements. We discuss directions for future research on the motivators of collective action in repressive contexts.

The Role of the Psychiatrist Working with Transgender Patients

There is a lack of psychiatric training and literature that addresses how best to care for transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people. This article seeks to give the psychiatrist working with TGNC adults a reliable framework and core concepts that help define the role of the psychiatrist working with this population. There are many functions of the psychiatrist, some of which are specific to TGNC identity consolidation and/or gender transition, and some that involve more generic or universal clinical considerations but require specialized knowledge about unique TGNC experiences and medical needs. There are social, cultural, historical, and political factors that affect the working alliance as well as the patient's health and forward trajectory. Working on a team and/or in collaboration with other medical providers and nonpsychiatric agencies is often necessary. Networking and expanding outside traditional psychiatric settings enhances education and clinical practice. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2016;46(6):340–345.]

Intimidation homophobe, stratégies d’adaptation et intégration de l’orientation sexuelle

Sexual minority youths (SMY) face challenges in consolidating their sexual identity because of heterosexism. The role of homophobic bullying and coping strategies in the formation of sexual identity has been explored within a convenient sample of 262 sexual minority youths. Six dimensions of sexual identity formation have been tested, independent variables being: homophobic bullying, coping strategies (avoidance and problem-solving), age, gender, migration trajectory, residency, sexual attraction and time elapsed since the realization of the sexual identity difference. Homophobic bullying was associated with a lower score of sexual identity affirmation and higher scores of identity concealment, internalized homo/bi-phobia, acceptance concern, identity uncertainty and process difficulty. Problem-solving coping strategies were associated with acceptance concerns. Avoidance coping strategies were associated with higher scores of acceptance concern and process difficulty in accepting non-heterosexual identity. Results confirm the importance of homo/bi-phobia prevention in order to help SMY in sexual identity consolidation.

Religiosidad popular mariana en Antofagasta: Lo andino, lo minero y la influencia de la Iglesia Católica.

Marian Popular religiosity in Antofagasta is a cultural fact that happens on the streets of the city, is a cultural sistema that has constituent elements from history; as the Andean world heritage has, among many traits, the cult to the Virgin, who is mistress of workers, as the mining world heritage observe identity consolidation through pampino and their religious tradition with the foundation and recasting of religious dances and family, and in recent decades, the in?uence of the Catholic Church has mobilized a structured performance organized and highly regulated.

Transnational policy and ‘authenticity’ discourses on Romani language and identity

AbstractRomani is a fascinating test case for the role that language plays in the process of identity consolidation in a transnational context. Standardisation is no longer inherently connected to the ‘territorialisation’ of language. Instead, we witness a bottom-up process in which individuals take ownership of language and negotiate language practices. Status regulation and language planning can be instigated and even implemented by institutions other than national states. All of this leads to pluralism of form rather than unification. Yet language remains a key locus for political mobilisation. It allows players to claim authenticity, it offers opportunities for intervention by external facilitators, and it provides a discussion platform through which traditional images can be challenged and recognition can be awarded. (Romani, language planning, standardization, language policy, transnationalism)*

REPERTÓRIO COMPARTILHADO DE RECURSOS EM COMUNIDADES VIRTUAIS DE PRÁTICA: UM ESTUDO DOS MECANISMOS DE INTERAÇÃO, ORGANIZAÇÃO E CONTROLE EM GRUPOS DE PESQUISA CIENTÍFICA

Comunidades de prática são grupos que se destacam pela informalidade das relações, participação, atuação em rede e autogestão. Uma classe dessas comunidades distingue-se das demais pelo forte uso dos recursos da tecnologia da informação: são as comunidades virtuais de prática. Cogitando a possibilidade dos grupos de pesquisa numa Universidade Federal serem equiparados a comunidades virtuais de prática, o objetivo desta pesquisa consistiu em inventariar e enquadrar tais grupos na condição de comunidades virtuais de prática e evidenciar-lhes os mecanismos de interação, organização e controle vigentes em seu conjunto de recursos, equiparáveis a um repertório compartilhado, bem como avaliar seus efeitos nas atividades dos grupos. O estudo utilizou método misto, empregando a estratégia survey e o estudo de caso. Espera-se que os resultados obtidos estimulem uma reflexão sobre a importância da tecnologia da informação e dos mecanismos analisados nas trocas de conhecimentos e na consolidação da identidade de grupos de pesquisa científica com atuação virtual.

Acting in solidarity: Testing an extended dual pathway model of collective action by bystander group members.

We examined predictors of collective action among bystander group members in solidarity with a disadvantaged group by extending the dual pathway model of collective action, which proposes one efficacy-based and one emotion-based path to collective action (Van Zomeren, Spears, Fischer, & Leach, 2004). Based on two proposed functions of social identity performance (Klein, Spears, & Reicher, 2007), we distinguished between the efficacy of collective action at consolidating the identity of a protest movement and its efficacy at achieving social change (political efficacy). We expected identity consolidation efficacy to positively predict collective action tendencies directly and indirectly via political efficacy. We also expected collective action tendencies to be positively predicted by moral outrage and by sympathy in response to disadvantaged outgroup's suffering. These hypotheses were supported in two surveys examining intentions to protest for Palestine in Britain (Study 1), and intentions to attend the June 4th vigil in Hong Kong to commemorate the Tiananmen massacre among a sample of Hong Kong citizens (Study 2). The contributions of these findings to research on the dual pathway model of collective action and the different functions of collective action are discussed.

Examining Identity Consolidation Processes Among Ethnic Minority Gay Men and Lesbians

Past scholarship has demonstrated shortcomings in developmental theories for both sexual and ethnic identity. Furthermore, identity development may be especially challenging for members of multiple minority groups facing significant social stressors. The primary goal of this study was to explore identity consolidation processes among individuals with intersecting minority identities. Using in-depth, personal interviews and self-report measures, data were collected from 16 ethnic minority gay men and lesbians. Themes such as acceptance, invisibility, and fear confirm the influence of social context on identity integration. Findings revealed differing magnitudes of consolidation. Greater social support and educational endeavors were critical factors in distinguishing participants’ extent of integration. Implications for practice and research are presented.

Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Problems among Engineering Students

INTRODUCTION: Mental health among students represents an important and growing public health concern. College is a place where student learns new experiences which play a vital role in physical as well as psychological growth for the identity consolidation. Engineering students experience frequent psychological distress as of various underlying reasons leading to psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, substance use etc. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The final sample consisted of 196 students (1st year 50, 2nd year 51, 3rd year 48 and final year 47) from the Malviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur, the premier engineering college of Rajasthan, India. Study was conducted in two phases. In first phase, engineering students were administered socio-demographic data sheet and GHQ-60 (General Health Questionnaire) hindi version to ascertain the extent of psychiatric illnesses. False positive cases were dropped and in second phase the diagnosed students with psychiatric problems and control group were individually administered a battery of tests to determine the role of various possible causative factors. Scores obtained on different measures were arranged as per the requirement of research design and statistical procedure. RESULTS: Out of all the subjects, 24.49% had some psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorder was highest i.e. 32% in 1st year students and overall in 36.60% of female students. Statistically significant differences were noted on various applied tools. CONCLUSION: Students who had higher scores on GHQ-60 scale had more neurotic problems, poor coping skills and abnormal personality traits and had high psychiatric morbidity than the vice versa group.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jucms.v2i2.11167 Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences (2014) Vol.2(2): 6-10

Bicultural stress, identity formation, and alcohol expectancies and misuse in Hispanic adolescents: a developmental approach.

Hispanic immigrant youth engage in increased health risk behaviors, such as alcohol misuse, due in part to being confronted with acculturative stress in addition to facing major normative developmental challenges, such as identity consolidation (Berry et al. in Appl Psychol 55:303-332, 2006). Using a developmental psychopathology framework, in the present study we examined the effect of bicultural stress on alcohol misuse among immigrated Hispanic adolescents, indirectly through trajectories of identity formation and alcohol expectancies. Our sample consisted of 302 recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents (53% male; Mage=14.5 at baseline) who were interviewed every 6months for 3years. Bivariate growth curve modeling was used to examine the influence of initial early bicultural stress on later alcohol misuse via change in identity development (i.e., coherence and confusion) and subsequent growth in cognitive alcohol expectancies. Findings revealed that initial levels and growth of identity coherence were not significantly associated with either bicultural stress or tension reduction (TR) alcohol expectancies. Multiple mediation analyses indicated that the effect of bicultural stress at time 1 on the frequency of being drunk at time 6 was mediated via high initial levels of identity confusion, followed by growth in risky TR expectancies (T4-T6). A developmental approach to the genesis of alcohol use problems in immigrant youth is discussed.

Life-review interventions as psychotherapeutic techniques in psychotraumatology

BackgroundLife-review interventions (LRI) are psychotherapeutic techniques originally derived from gerontology, which can be distinguished from other biographical and reminiscing techniques. They have been systematically implemented and investigated not only in elderly clients with depression, cognitive decline, in oncology units and in hospices but also in adolescents with various mental problems. LRI are mainly based on the elaboration of the autobiographical memory as well as on personal identity consolidation. This bears the potential for the systematic introduction, use, and evaluation of LRI within the field of psychotraumatology.MethodThis article gives a general overview and outlines a structured LRI by means of a case example of a World War II-traumatised patient. Other applications and implementations of LRI in psychotraumatology and other related areas are presented.ResultSo far, only uncontrolled or controlled LRI case studies have been investigated with traumatized samples.ConclusionThe importance of further randomized controlled studies is emphasized.

Age, memory type, and the phenomenology of autobiographical memory: Findings from an Italian sample

The present research explored differences in phenomenology between two types of memories, a general self-defining memory and an earliest childhood memory. A sample of 76 Italian participants were selected and categorised into two age groups: 20–30 years and 31–40 years. The Memory Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ) was administered, taking note of latency and duration times of the narratives. Consistent with the literature, the self-defining memory differed significantly from the earliest childhood memory in terms of phenomenology, with the recency of the memory associated with more intense phenomenological experience. The self-defining memory took longer to retrieve and narrate than the earliest childhood memory. Meaningful differences also emerged between the two age groups: Participants in their 30s rated their self-defining memory as more vivid, coherent, and accessible than participants in their 20s. According to latency findings, these differences suggest an expanded period of identity consolidation for younger adults. Further applications of the MEQ should be carried out to replicate these results with other samples of young adults.

Personal identity processes and self-esteem: Temporal sequences in high school and college students

Based on a dual-cycle identity model, we examined how identity processes were associated with self-esteem in high school and college students. Cross-lagged analyses in three longitudinal studies found that commitment making and identification with commitment were positively related and ruminative exploration was negatively related to self-esteem. A self-esteem main-effects model was supported in high school students (with self-esteem predicting these identity processes) and a reciprocal model was supported in college students (with identification with commitment and ruminative exploration being reciprocally related to self-esteem). Apparently, high self-esteem functions as a resource for tackling identity-related issues in high school and college students. When adolescents enter college and make the transition to adulthood, identity consolidation, in turn, increasingly plays into self-esteem as well.

Life history strategy, identity consolidation, and psychological well-being

Previous research has shown that individual differences in life history strategies co-vary with a large array of variables to the extent that latent variables from a number of psychological measures load on a single (Super-K) factor. Similar to research on the Super-K factor, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that various measures of identity would load on a single factor and that this latent variable would in turn be associated with other variables reflecting life history strategy and psychological well-being, making a Super-K factor. A sample of 248 university students were administered a variety of questionnaires related to identity, life history strategy, and psychological well-being. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the hypothesized Super-K factor and the relationship remained even when controlling for variance in social-desirable responding. The results are discussed in terms of the association between Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development and life history theory.