Identity Formation Youth And Development

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Description

The concept of identity is one of the most important ideas the social sciences have investigated in recent years, yet no introductory textbooks are available to those who want to gain a sense of this burgeoning field. The first of its kind, this text provides an introduction to the scientific study of identity formation, with a focus on youth development.

The analyses of the problems and prospects faced by contemporary young people in forming identities are placed in the context of societies that themselves are in transition, further complicating identity formation and the interrelated processes of self development and moral-ethical reasoning. In order to sort through what is now a vast literature on the various aspects of human identity, this book introduces the Simplified Identity Formation Theory.

This theory cuts through much of the academic jargon that limits the accessibility of this promising field, and builds an understanding of human identity from first principles. Part I outlines the philosophical and theoretical roots of the identity question, explores different historical and cultural contexts, and provides a framework for studying the multifaceted nature of contemporary identity formation.

Part II examines related forms of human development, focusing on perspective-taking and moral reasoning, and how these are related to ethics and forms of agency. Part III completes the book by examining the scientific evidence concerning identity formation in various societal contexts, along with the interventions that can be undertaken to foster optimal development.

A robust website also accompanies this text, containing everything from flashcards to a study guide for students, and an instructor manual to PowerPoint Presentations for instructors. Review: Cote and Levine adeptly manage to place the field of identity theory and research into a psychosocial historical context that gives the reader new insights into the developmental task of identity formation, in a manner that is accessible to all. -Steven L.

Berman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology Department, University of Central Florida and President, Society for Research on Identity Formation, US Identity is the integrating principle that makes sense of human existence but its study has tended to be fragmented and incomplete. Cote and Levine make a major breakthrough with their holistic view of human development in which identity and identity capital have a central place. -John Bynner, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, Institute of Education, University College London, UK Professors Cote and Levine provide a masterfully erudite, creative, and singularly important integration of the multidisciplinary roots of the concept of identity, and offer a new and significant frame for future research through their Simplified Identity Formation Theory (SIFT).

This is an invaluable book that is destined to become required reading for all scholars and students seeking to understand, and to advance knowledge about, identity development among youth. -Richard M. Lerner, Ph.D., Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science and Director, Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts University, US Cote and Levine are at their best when they describe identity issues in the college years and in the transition to career from college.

An audience of undergraduates, themselves worried about what will come of themselves, feeling both uncertain and guilty at failing to do as well as they should have, will much appreciate the parts of the book that let them know that they are not alone. -Daphna Oyserman, Ph.D., Dean's Professor of Psychology, University of Southern California, US This book integrates multiple perspectives on identity development with the sociological and psychological study of youth, and frames identity within the constraints of social and historical contexts.

The emphasis on the interplay of agency and structure is extremely valuable, especially within a cross-cultural lens. Cote and Levine provide a roadmap for studying identity within the complex modern world. -