Abstract:
Identity is a controversial construct in psychology, but at its core it revolves around the question of how persons find an answer to the question "Who am I?" But how does one find such an answer? In (developmental) psychology, adolescence is seen as a central phase of identity development, even though identity itself unfolds over the entire life phase of a person. Whereas identity used to be primarily externally formed, if not prescribed, today the possibilities for many seem to be extremely diverse, if not overwhelming. This opens up possibilities, but there is also a lack of anchor points (grand narratives) on which those searching can orient themselves. In this lecture, we will therefore explore the question of what challenges, but also opportunities, young people face today when they are supposed to find, construct and stabilize their identity/identities. How can this succeed in times of increasing mobility, globalization and digitalization? And what can people do who want to support this process? Using various examples, possible answers will be given and discussed with the audience.