PSYC 336
Identity Development in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Spring 2025
Division III

Who am I? How do others see me, and how do I want them to see me? What are my core values? Who do I want to become? These questions underlie what some theorists consider to be the fundamental developmental task of adolescence and young adulthood: Identity development. In this course, we will read and discuss the theoretical and empirical literature to understand how adolescents and young adults develop a unique, multifaceted sense of self. We’ll explore how the biological, cognitive, and social transitions of this period prompt the development of identity. We’ll also emphasize the role of family, peers, school, social media, and youths’ own agency in informing their identity development. Special attention will be paid to the topics of gender identity, racial and ethnic identity, sexual orientation, and personality.