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JSSH Staff Nurse - 2019
Applied Psychology
Easy

'Identity versus role confusion' is seen in?

Appeared in: JSSH Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

  • Identity versus Role Confusion is the fifth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.
  • This stage occurs during adolescence, typically from about age 12 to 21.
  • The central task is for the adolescent to develop a coherent sense of self, or personal identity.
  • Success in this stage leads to the virtue of fidelity, which is the ability to commit to others and to one's own values.
  • Failure results in role confusion, where the individual is unsure of their place in society.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Infants (birth to 1 year) are in the 'Trust vs. Mistrust' stage. Their primary task is to develop a sense of trust in their caregivers and the world.
  • Option B: Preschoolers (ages 3 to 6) are in the 'Initiative vs. Guilt' stage. They focus on asserting power and control over their environment by planning activities and making up games.
  • Option D: Toddlers (ages 1 to 3) are in the 'Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt' stage. The main task is to develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a sense of independence.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Nurses use Erikson's theory to provide age-appropriate care. Understanding that an adolescent patient is focused on identity helps the nurse communicate effectively, respect their need for independence, and involve them in care decisions.
  • A hospitalized adolescent may struggle with a loss of control and peer group separation, which can intensify role confusion. Nurses can mitigate this by encouraging contact with friends and allowing for self-expression.
  • What if? If the patient were a toddler (Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt) instead of an adolescent, the nurse's priority would shift from promoting identity to encouraging independence in simple tasks like feeding or dressing themselves to foster a sense of autonomy.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'Identity versus role confusion'.
  • Recognize this phrase as one of the central conflicts in a major developmental theory.
  • Recall or identify that this concept belongs to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.
  • Access your knowledge of Erikson's eight stages and match the 'Identity vs. Role Confusion' crisis to the correct age group.
  • Evaluate the given options: Infants, Preschoolers, Adolescents, and Toddlers. Select 'Adolescents' as the corresponding stage.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
  • Stem keywords: Identity versus role confusion
  • Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QSACiozDKei4HEw8oIdSVq

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 1053-1055

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 3061-3063

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 3373-3375

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