ABSTRACT
Identity formation is one of the most prominent developmental tasks associated with adolescence (Erikson, 1968; Havighurst, 1973). Evolving through this process requires an integration of information from one’s past, present, and anticipated future ability to achieve desired goals given diverse social demands, constraints, and opportunities. It involves personal reflection and observation of oneself in relation to others. Interactions with the outside world increase, allowing further integration of cognitive skills, social skills (i.e., behavior), and emotions. Erikson emphasized the role of social and cultural factors on development. By adolescence, minority youth are well aware of the values of the majority culture and its standards of performance, achievement, and beauty. Therefore, adapting to the developmental demands also requires balancing aspects of the self with the social environment (Compas, 1987; Kagan, 1983). For McCandless and Evans (1973), this process further involves an integration of “selves or identifications” with perceptions of future development. As such, synthesizing prior experiences with future expectations represents a critical aspect of identity formation.
