Explain how both family relationships and peer interactions influence adolescent development during the identity formation stage. (5 marks)
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Family relationships provide the foundation for identity development during adolescence (typically ages 12-18) through:
- Emotional and physical security that allows adolescents to take risks in identity exploration.
- Parenting styles that balance support with appropriate autonomy.
- Transmission of initial values and beliefs that form the basis for self-concept.
Peer interactions shape identity formation through:
- Social comparison processes that help refine self-perception.
- Opportunities to experiment with different social roles and behaviours.
- Feedback on identity choices through acceptance or rejection.
The dynamic interplay between these influences creates:
- Different contexts for identity exploration.
- Sometimes conflicting messages that adolescents must reconcile.
- A balanced identity that integrates values from both family and peer spheres.
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*PEEL – Solution is structured using an adjusted PEEL method to show cause and effect: [P] State the cause/factor [E] Show how it causes the effect [Ev] Evidence demonstrating why/how [L] Reinforce the causal relationship.
**Language highlighting the cause-effect relationship is bolded in the answer below.
- [P] Family provides emotional security for identity exploration.
- [E] This enables adolescents to take risks and try new identities.
- [Ev] This happens when supportive parents allow teenagers to try new interests like joining drama clubs or make new friend groups without fear of rejection.
- [L] This shows a clear connection between family stability and confident self-discovery.
- [P] Peer feedback shapes self-perception.
- [E] This causes adolescents to modify behaviours for acceptance.
- [Ev] As a result, teenagers adopt clothing styles or music preferences matching their friend group to help them belong.
- [L] This demonstrates why peer approval directly influences identity choices during adolescence.
- [P] Conflicting family-peer values create identity tension.
- [E] This leads to adolescents developing independent thinking skills.
- [Ev] This occurs because teenagers must choose between parents’ expectations and friends’ social priorities, which helps form lasting personal values.
- [L] These elements work together to produce unique identities balancing both influences through individual decision-making.