Identity and Agency in Emerging Adulthood: Two Developmental Routes in the Individualization Process

Schwartz, Seth J.; Côté, James E.; Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen

doi:10.1177/0044118x05275965

Cited by 799Identity, Memory, and TherapyYouth Education and Societal DynamicsRacial and Ethnic Identity Research

Identity and Agency in Emerging Adulthood: Two Developmental Routes in the Individualization Process

Schwartz, Seth J., Côté, James E., Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen·2005·Youth & Society

DOI 10.1177/0044118x05275965

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Abstract

The study of emerging adulthood—the prolonged transition to adulthood extending into the 20s—is a rapidly growing area of research. Although identity issues are prominent during this period, the role of personal agency and individualization in the identity formation process during these years is not well understood. This study examines three psychological aspects of identity formation (style, status, and process) in relation to personal agency associated with the individualization process. Structural equation modeling analyses suggest that higher levels of agency are positively related to exploration and flexible commitment, unrelated to conformity, and negatively related to avoidance. Cluster analysis was used to examine and support a theorized polarity between developmental and default forms of individualization. Replicated across three U.S. ethnic groups, the results suggest that emerging adults utilize agentic capacities to varying degrees, and that the degree of agency utilized is directly related to the coherence of the emerging adult's identity.

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Identity and agency in emerging adulthood: Two developmental routes in the individualization process
Schwartz, S. J., Côté, J. E., & Arnett, J. J. (2005)
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Identità e "agency" nell'emerging adulthood: due strade evolutive nel processo di individualizzazione
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Identitätsentwicklung und Emerging Adulthood
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Agency in the emerging adulthood period: An introductory study in Turkey
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Authors: Schwartz, S. J., Côté, J. E., & Arnett, J. J.
Affiliations: University of Miami (US)
Western University (CA)
University of Maryland, College Park (US)
ORCID: Schwartz, Seth J.
Côté, James E.
Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen
Venue: Youth & Society
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2005-12
Volume: 37
Issue: 2
Pages: 201-229
ISSN: 0044-118X (ISSN-L)
1552-8499
DOI: 10.1177/0044118x05275965
OpenAlex: W2166065160
Cited by: 799
References: 53
Citations by year: 2026: 35 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 58 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 40
FWCI: 19.00
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Youth & Society (publishedVersion)
Clark Digital Commons (Clark University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
Keywords: emerging adulthood, identity construction, individual agency, individualization, identity status, identity processes, identity styles, identity exploration, conformity, identity avoidance, identity coherence, ethnic differences

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Identity and Agency in Emerging Adulthood: Two Developmental Routes in the Individualization Process

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