Changes in Identification During Adolescence: A Personal Construct Theory Approach

Abstract

The Role Construct Repertory Grid was administered individually to groups of eight subjects representing the early, mid and late adolescence age ranges. The Mid-Adolescence Group showed significantly greater conceptual distances between ideal-self and actual-self than either of the other groups. Differences between the age groups on self-integration plots and a measure of self-isolation were also observed. Evidence was found of decreasing identification with parents as a function of age.