Who Am I? Getting to Know Yourself During Adolescence

Adolescence is a phase in your life when hormonal activity begins to usher in enormous changes to your body and brain. These changes can impact your overall point of view, relationships and many other aspects of your life. While this can be among the happiest times of your life, it can also be riddled with challenges. One such challenge can be your quest for self-identity.

Around this stage, you may be asking, “Who am I?” Many teens ask this same question. It is a natural process that you’re going through as you progress to the next developmental milestone. It can be a challenging process for many, and it can even be traumatic for some.

The search for self-identity is a gradual process that can be consuming at this stage. It can bring about unprecedented challenges that you may not understand. This stage of life can be difficult, however, with support, you can emerge as a resilient and confident individual ready to be a responsible adult.

Understanding “Sense of Self”

Self-identity or “sense of self” is defined as an individual’s understanding and knowledge of themselves. When young and inexperienced, you may have “incomplete” knowledge of yourself including your abilities and limitations. This lack of understanding can result in self-consciousness at times.

The sense of self or identity during adolescence can be shaped by many influencing factors. One way of forming your identity is by reflecting on how others see or perceive you. Psychologists have labeled this socio-psychological concept as “the looking-glass self.” It was conceptualized by Charles Horton Cooley in 1902. It holds that “a person’s self grows out of society’s interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others.”

The quest for identity is a critical part of adolescence that has evolutionary significance. As you transition towards becoming an adult, it is important that you develop independence and self-reliance and depend less on your parents. Having a “socially constructed sense of self,” is a reason why adolescents, as well as adults, have the tendency to seek the approval and acceptance of their peers. Unfortunately, teenagers may be more strongly affected by outside influences.

The Teenage Brain

Why are teens vulnerable to the “growing pains” of identity formation? Why are they notoriously self-conscious? According to Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, a cognitive neuroscientist affiliated with the University College London, “it is in the brain.” Brain-imaging studies show that this adolescent predilection for self-identity and identity crisis is linked to their rapidly changing brains, where the sense of self is developing. Specifically, this lies in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC).

MPFC is among the last areas of the brain to develop among young people, and its activity peaks during adolescence. This high activity during this developmental phase indicates increased self-reflection. Its active functioning decreases in adults as their ability to self-reflect becomes more efficient.

Counseling Through Identity Formation

The quest for your identity can be a challenge for you and many other teenagers, considering its many complicated facets. It is, however, a vital process that helps integrate the aspects of self, as you mature. If you are struggling with identify development or self-esteem you aren’t alone. Therapy can help.

Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC contracts with therapists that can help you improve your self-esteem and sense of self. Your therapist can work with you and your parents to get you to where you’d like to be. Talk with your parents or guardian about scheduling!

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