In Turkey, 65% of young people cannot say that they ‘know exactly who they are’.
Late adolescence in Turkey shows us some causes and consequences, but first let’s look at the definition of adolescence: According to Erikson, adolescence is the process of finding an answer to the question “Who am I?”; individuals who fail to complete this process successfully fall into identity confusion. Nowadays, identity development may extend to older ages; this can be defined as “identity moratorium” or “delayed identity formation”. There is an individual awareness in the process of identity acquisition. The individual makes inquiries about his/her own self and future and forms a unique and coherent sense of self towards the end of adolescence. Today, however, changing economic and social conditions have significantly affected identity development. So why does identity delay occur? What are the psychological effects and consequences of identity delay?
Why Does Identity Delay Occur?
Occupational identity is very important for identity formation. Unemployment takes away a space that allows a person to define themselves, so that they cannot reach answers like “I am a doctor, I am a teacher…”, which leads to a feeling of uncertainty. At the same time, difficulties in finding a job may affect one’s professional preferences and lead to a state of dissatisfaction in identity. The individual who is unable to achieve economic independence postpones adult roles and becomes a full adult in identity.
The role of cultural norms in identity delay should not be forgotten. Turkey has a collectivist structure with strong family ties. This can be both supportive and restrictive. The individual may face some challenging attitudes towards living a separate life from the family or directing his/her own identity of his/her own free will. For example, if young people are expected to have a lifestyle, a spouse, a profession that the family will approve, they may postpone this search for identity and these attitudes may both complicate the process and have a negative impact on psychological well-being.
Especially for women, both the pressure to marry early and the pressure to pursue a career create a dilemma. This confusion makes identity formation difficult. The exam-oriented nature of education can prolong the journey of discovering identity. Because long periods of time spent studying for exams may not allow the individual to get to know himself/herself and may cause him/her to define himself/herself by his/her exam success. In addition, the status of being a student may prolong the role of adolescence. Students often receive support from their families and this is one of the factors that influence independence and responsibility.
What Are the Psychological Effects of Identity Delay?
Identity delay can cause confusion within the person. Because of this confusion, the person cannot determine what to do and how to behave. This feeling of uncertainty can lead to anxiety and increased stress. In addition, when identity is delayed, it becomes difficult to recognize the inner world and enjoy life. For the individual who does not know what he/she wants, it becomes difficult to build a life, set goals and stick to these goals; most of the time, goals can be easily abandoned.
This can lead to dysthymia (chronic low-level depression), inability to enjoy life and a sense of “emptiness”. The person may compare himself/herself with people who are in a different position from him/her and feel inferior. The individual with a lack of clear identity ties his/her self-worth more to external criteria and this can make him/her feel worthless.
For this reason, the individual who feels inadequate has to struggle not only with identity confusion but also with low self-esteem. Individuals with fragile self-esteem and ambiguous identity constantly seek the approval of others, which can lead to avoidance of risk-taking, inability to make decisions, and thus procrastination, which can weaken personality structuring. Because they cannot make choices with a certain consistency, they may develop avoidance behavior.
Moreover, identity delay may affect not only the individual’s inner world but also their relationships. When identity is not fully developed, integrity cannot be achieved and the individual wants to be more attached to others. With this attachment, anxious relationship patterns may form. In relationships, the anxiety of “what if he/she is left without me?”, “what if he/she leaves me?” increases. As a result, overly controlling, dependent or overly avoidant relationship dynamics can be observed.
What Are the Social Impacts of Identity Delay?
Prolonged education, difficulties in finding a job and the resulting identity delay directly affect not only individual psychology but also the general dynamics of society. Due to the prolonged time young people spend away from the family home and the prolonged student period, the age of labor force participation rises and the young population is not sufficiently involved in production.
In addition, longer economic ties to the family may increase the financial burden on the family. It also affects the intrusive family structure. As adolescence is prolonged and economic independence becomes more difficult, adulthood is entered later. The age at marriage may increase, which reduces the total fertility rate and accelerates the aging trend of the population.
In addition, young people have longer decision-making processes and may be more likely to avoid taking responsibility. Fewer socially independent individuals may also delay innovative ideas and entrepreneurship. The prolonged transition period may lead to ambiguous social roles and value conflicts. Consequently, these delays at the individual level also carry significant risks for community development and social cohesion.
References
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Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis.
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Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status.
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Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood.
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Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) veriler
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Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2000). İnsan ve Aile.
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Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image
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Çelik & Günay, 2019, Türkiye Araştırmaları Literatür Dergisi
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Yörükoğlu, 2018, Çocuk Ruh Sağlığı
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Arslan, 2020, Turkish Studies
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