1. Identity Crisis
(discussion paper)
by Daniel Keeran, MSW
www.ctihalifax.com
My interest in identity crisis is based on my attempts to convince others. If the subject is
different than or a challenge to the identity of one I am trying to convince, resistance to
my information can be predicted.
The adolescent person is vulnerable due to identity confusion or lability as a normal
stage of development previously identified by Erik Erikson. For this reason, the
adolescent may reject parental information as a defence against the fear of losing a
fragile and developing sense of self or identity.
The degree of defensiveness may be a measure of how insecure the person feels about
a subject. For this reason, conversation especially with adolescents, is most effective as
invitations to talk or reflections of thoughts and feelings, sprinkled with validations, so
that the content is directed by the adolescent person.
Here is an example:
1. Parent: Hey, what’s happening?
2. Teen: Not much.
3. Parent: Mind if I ask a philosophical question?
4. Teen: Sure. I don’t care.
5. Parent: What’s the most important thing you can do with your life?
6. Teen: I don’t know. Love I guess.
7. Parent: Great answer. What is love?
As identity becomes more fully formed, the resistance to perceived opposing or different
information, will become stronger as a normal development. A dependent personality
can be identified as one whose need for approval is greater than the need for identity
which renders the person vulnerable to influence.
Here is a course that can be completed online.
