“Now what do I do?“: Toward a conceptual understanding of the effects of traumatic events on identity functioning
Abstract
Introduction Traumas refer to relatively discrete, negatively valanced, events causing physical, economic, spiritual, and/or psychological harm with life-altering impacts. These impacts include widely varied effects on the identity functioning of adolescents/emerging adults. Methods The array of possible impacts of traumatic events was considered with particular attention devoted to the identification of variables that may be predictive of particular identity-related outcomes. Results A taxonomy of possible developmental impacts of traumatic events on identity functioning is developed: (a) identity resilience, (b) identity affirmation, (c) identity delay, (d) identity threat, (e) identity loss, (f) identity alteration, (g) identity replacement, (h) trauma-shaped identity, and (i) trauma-centered identity. A series of 11 propositions regarding the predictors of various developmental impacts is advanced. The propositions involve variables related to the nature of the traumatic event, variables related to the effects of trauma (other than identity-related effects), person-related variables, and variables related to the social context in which the person is functioning. Conclusion These propositions can serve as a research agenda for furthering our understanding of the range of effects of trauma on identity functioning.
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Incidental stressful life events, such as an illness or a relational breakup, can serve as turning points in the development of identity.
“Incidental stressful life events, such as an illness or a relational breakup, can also serve as turning points in the development of identity [21].”
From Adolescent identity development in context. (2022) · cites this paper as [21]
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Dynamics of Identity Development in Adolescence: A Decade in Review
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- Authors
- Waterman, A. S.
- Affiliations
- The College of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Waterman, Alan S.
- ORCID
- Waterman, Alan S.
- Venue
- Journal of Adolescence
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-01-02
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 59-69
- ISSN
- 0140-1971 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9254
- OpenAlex
- W2997676494
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 12.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Adolescence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- traumatic events, adolescents, emerging adults, identity resilience, identity affirmation, identity threat, identity loss
- MeSH terms
- Exposure to Violence, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Risk Factors, Self Concept, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Adolescent Development, Resilience, Psychological
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