411 Child Podcast

In this episode, Jenn and Beth discuss how teen's develop a private life in order to create their sense of self. Using Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, we discuss how teens work through the ego crisis of self-identity vs. role confusion (diffusion). Specifically, we discuss how children move from a fantasy life created with parents through reading and play to a private life in adolescence. Ironically, parents are often very fearful of a teen's private life. Parents do not always understand that their children take their family values with them into the world as their filter. Most challenges and view of self are guided by the strength of these family values. The teen compares his family's view of self against those of peers and teachers. Through this exploration, teens often take on different roles (like Halloween costumes) to try to find his/her self-identity. Those that do, continue to develop confidence in themselves. Those who don't continue to search. In our next episode, Adolescence pt.