What Are Identity and Role Confusion?
This is important to the process of forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life.
Identity
Identity is defined as a fundamental organizing principal which develops constantly throughout the lifespan.It involves the experiences, relationships, beliefs, values, and memories that make up a person's subjective sense of self. This helps create a continuous self-image that remains fairly constant even as new aspects of the self are developed or strengthened over time. Identity provides the following:
- Self-sameness: A sense of continuity within the self and in interaction with others
- Uniqueness: A frame to differentiate between self and interaction with others
- Psychosocial development: Mental and physical health for adolescents
Role Confusion
Kids who are not allowed to explore and test out different identities might be left with role confusion, which can result in the following:
- Being unsure of who you are and where you fit
- Drifting from one job or relationship to another
- Feeling disappointed and confused about your place in life
Benefits of Identity
There are numerous benefits behind shaping and forming an identity.
- Commitment: I might involve committing to a career path, deciding what social groups to associate with, and even developing a sense of personal style.
- Self-confidence: Those who are able to develop a strong sense of identity are better able to have self-confidence, or a sense of trust in their abilities, qualities, and judgements.
- Sense of independence: Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will grow with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will remain insecure and confused about themselves and the future.
- Fidelity: Those who are successful develop fidelity, a psychological virtue characterized by the ability to relate to others and form genuine relationships.
Causes
There are various factors that contribute to whether a person forms a strong identity. Friends, family, schoolmates, other social groups, societal trends, and pop culture all play a role in shaping and forming identity.
Consequences of Role Confusion
Role confusion can have lasting consequences on a person's life, including:
- Difficulties with commitment: A stable personal identity allows individuals to have better relationships with others.
- Worse mental health and well-being: Research has linked a strong sense of identity to better emotional and psychological well-being in adolescents.
- Weak sense of self: Role confusion has been found to lead to a weak sense of self.
- Lack of confidence: A lack of self-identity can make it difficult for people to have confidence in themselves and their abilities.
How to Strengthen Identity
No matter where you are in your life, there are things you can do to help build a stronger sense of identity. For example, thinking about what your values are helps solidify your identity. Core values are those things that are really important and meaningful to you and that motivate you and guide your decisions.
It's important to spend time alone to get to know yourself better. Those quiet moments can help you focus on your priorities and improve your sense of self. Relatedly, learn to practice self-compassion, which can help you better understand and accept your flaws and limitations.
Become skilled at things you enjoy. Taking time to find and practice hobbies can help you get greater acquainted with yourself.
How to Decrease Role Confusion
If you're feeling confused about who you are and your role in life, there are steps you can take to decrease role confusion.
Build on your strengths. Identify the areas in your life in which you excel, and take time to develop and build on those strengths.
Try new things to discover what you like. Think about your passions and interests. Brainstorm some ideas around things that excite you.
Make commitments and set goals. While you can set goals in any part of your life, consider thinking about some common areas like health, career, finances, and education.
Participate in activities that are related to your interests. Take the initiative to become part of something that interests you.