1. The stages of Life

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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. 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

12. 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.