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Chapter 7

whichmaynotfit).Ericksonalsocontends

thatinWesternindustrializedsocietieslate

adolescenceoffersatimefora

“psychosocialmoratorium,”atimeof

experimentationwithvariousrolesand

identitiesbeforeadolescentsintegratethem

intotheirchosenidentity.Thismayhelp

parentsunderstandsomeof theangst,odd

behavior,andconflicttheyexperiencewith

theiradolescents.Sidebar7.2expressesthe

frustrationsomeparentsexperiencewhile

parentinganadolescence.

Marcia(1966),buildingonErickson’s

workonadolescentidentity,suggests

adolescenceisn’tatimeofidentity resolution

oridentity confusionasEriksonclaimed.

Instead,thisstageinvolvestheexplorationof

andcommitmenttoanidentityinavariety

of lifedomains,includingpolitics,

occupation,religion,intimaterelationships,

friendships,andgenderroles.

Parenting can be a frustrating and

seemingly unrewarding job—especially

when it comes to adolescents.Few parents

are ready for the contention which exists

between most adolescents and their

parents.Many parents are barely past

adolescence themselves,and may still be

feeling some tension as they work to

establish their own identities.Research

suggests an authoritative or indulgent

parenting style is related to relatively

higher levels of self-confidence and lower

levels of psychological distress.Parental

involvement and acceptance may be the

primary contributors to the development

of an adolescent’s positive self-concept,

psychological well-being,and resiliency

(Aquilino & Supple,2001; Sheehan &

Noller,2002; Ritter,2005; Lee,Daniels,&

Kissinger,2006). Lower levels of problem

behavior were found in authoritative and

authoritarian homes,suggesting strictness

and supervision may help deter the

development of behavior problems.

Compared to teens raised in neglectful

families,teens raised in indulgent families

had higher levels of competence and work

orientation,and significantly fewer

Adolescence involves exploration

and commitment to an identity.

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SIDEBAR7.2

“Oh, to be only half as wonderful as my child
thought I was when he was small, and half as
stupid as my teenager now thinks I am.”
—attributed to Erma Bombeck