The stages of Life

Identity is who you are it is a combination of your personality traits, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, interests and values

Identity Continued… Factors out of our control that help shape our identity include the following: Cosmic - e.g. your birth, God Genetic - genes have a strong influence on who you are Cultural - you had no control over the culture you were born and raised in Circumstances - e.g. major historical events, accidents, chance meeting etc., --> occurrences that seem to be pure luck or pure misfortune

Autonomy is the healthy ability to shape your own life Identity and autonomy correlate to each other; a strong sense of identity helps you to become autonomous. An autonomous person understands he/she is independent as well as interdependent with others.

False Autonomy There are two types of False Autonomy Groupthink – is when people in the transitional period make a sharp break from their parents and adopt the practices and views of a different group, e.g. a cult. In this way, they have only traded one form of dependency for another. The “Jailbreak” Marriage – in the desire to be free of their own family, some people contract into another family, e.g. they get married without the necessary maturity and skills to make it work.

Life stages Psychologists who have studied human development have outlined the STAGES of a person’s life and growth in a variety of ways. Eight Stages with Transitions A typical outline of how a human life develops includes 8 stages: Infancy Early childhood Play age School age Adolescence + a transition period Young adulthood between each Adulthood Mature adulthood

Transitional Period (between ages of 17-22) TRANSITION: to go across, to pass. It implies a certain degree of danger, but also opportunity. Reactions to TRANSITION: denial, anger, frustrations, depression, emotional turmoil, wishes to be free and safe at once, eventually acceptance.

11 Developmental Tasks of the Transitional Period (between ages of 17-22) 1. Shaping an identity – Who am I? What sense do I have of myself? 2. Becoming autonomous to become more independent physically, financially, intellectually, emotionally 3. Constructing and living out a value system childhood values directed by parents, school, church are challenged to direct their own lives using their own values

11 Developmental Tasks of the Transitional Period continued… 4. Being capable of a loving commitment slow in their ability to sustain and commit themselves to a stable loving relationship with one person 5. Reflecting on religion many reject religious practices that have been part of their lives. Must make a personal search for a religious practice that expresses their faith. 6. Making friends and living with intimacy wide range of emotional and intellectual experiences to share

11 Developmental Tasks of the Transitional Period continued… 7. Integrating sexuality developing a set of values to guide sexual expression and appreciate the role of sex in life  8. Gaining competence in intellectual, physical, relational skills  9. Selecting a career and taking an adult job preparing for a career, developing structured career skills

11 Developmental Tasks of the Transitional Period continued… 10. Using leisure time for renewal need to determine how to use leisure time in the best way for them 11. Taking part in the broader community at 18 can vote  influence local, provincial and national politics question their role in the world community

KNOWING YOURSELF Knowing yourself involves honestly addressing these questions: What am I feeling? What do I want? What are people telling me? What are my talents? What is out of my control and within? Your responses to the above questions help shape who you are – your identity.