Theoretical and methodological analysis of the problem of emotional separation in the process of establishing personal identity in youth

Authors

  • Sofia Hodyk Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2024-44-hod

Keywords:

emotional separation, separation-individuation, identity, personal identity, youth

Abstract

Purpose. The article reveals a theoretical and methodological analysis of the problem of emotional separation in the process of forming personal identity in youth. The goal was to study the characteristics of emotional separation in youth.

Methods. To achieve the goals, the following methods of scientific and theoretical study of the problem were used: analysis, synthesis, abstraction, systematization, generalization to define the concept of the essence of emotional separation, modeling - in order to determine the impact of emotional separation on the formation of personal identity in youth.

Results. The theoretical and methodological analysis of the thematic scientific and psychological literature on the problems of emotional separation and personal self-identity in youth gave reasons to affirm the existence of a relationship between them. As mentioned earlier, the concept of emotional separation has not yet gained momentum in the literature in any field. Psychology and related sciences have the opportunity to accept this concept and build a theoretical basis for it within the framework of our profession.

During successful emotional separation, young people and adolescents remain psychologically independent, emotionally separating from their parents while simultaneously developing a sense of trust in them. However, independence from parents is not just emotional separation. Attachment theory emphasizes the importance of the emotional bond between parents and children, which impairs the child's adaptive independence from parents - the process of separation. Secure relationships between parents and adolescents can promote healthy autonomy and, in their case, positive psychosocial adaptation, as well as the formation of personal identity.

Conclusions. In adolescence, the child's opportunities expand, which is marked, in particular, by the emotional separation of the subject from his family context. That is, emotional separation of the child from the parents, which is a completely healthy process. Our research is precisely an attempt to reveal how the personal identity of young men is related to the parameters of the relationship between them and their parents, that is, emotional separation.

References

1. Hodyk, S. (2024). Psykholohichni osoblyvosti fenomenu emotsiinoi separatsii v yunatskomu vitsi [Psychological features of the phenomenon of emotional separation in youth]. Psykhoheneza osobystosti: norma i deviatsiia – Psychogenesis of personality: norm and deviation: coll. of science articles and theses. (s. 31-41). Lutsk : FOP Mazhula Yu. M. [in Ukrainian].

2. Kulchytska, A. V, Mudryk, A. B, Fedotova, T. V. (2015). Stanovlennia komunikatyvnoi kompetentnosti v studentiv-psykholohiv [Development of communicative competence in psychology students]. East European Gournal of Psycholinguistics, 2, 100-109. [in Ukrainian].

3. Adams, G.,& Fitch S. (1982). Ego stage and identity status development: a cross-sequential analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43,574–583. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.43.3.574

4. Allen, J. P. & Tan, J. S. (2016). The multiple facets of attachment in adolescence. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (3rd ed., pp. 399–434). Guilford Press.

5. Beyers, W., Goossens, L., Vansant, I., & Moors, E. (2003). A structural model of autonomy in middle and late adolescence: Connectedness, separation, detachment, and agency. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 32, 351–365. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/a:1024922031510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024922031510

6. Blos, P. (1967). The second individuation process of adolescence. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 22(1), 162–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/00797308.1967.11822595. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00797308.1967.11822595

7. Branje, S. (2018). Development of parent-adolescent relationships: Conflict interactions as a mechanism of change. Child Development Perspectives, 12(3), 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12278 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12278

8. Campbell, E., Adams, G. R., & Dobson, W. R. (1984). Familial correlates of identity formation in late adolescence: A study of the predictive utility of connectedness and individuality in family relations. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 13(6), 509–525. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088596. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088596

9. Collins, W. A., & Steinberg, L. (2006). Adolescent development in interpersonal context. In N. Eisenberg (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 3. Social, emotional, and personality development (6th ed., pp. 1003–1067). New York: Wiley.

10. Corcoran, K. J. (1982). An expoloratory investigation into self-other differentiation: Empirical evidence for a monistic perspective on empathy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 19(1), 63-68. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0088418 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0088418

11. Corcoran, K. J. (1983). Emotional separation and empathy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39(5), 667-671. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(198309)39:5<667::AID-JCLP2270390505>3.0.CO;2-C. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(198309)39:5<667::AID-JCLP2270390505>3.0.CO;2-C

12. De Goede, I. H. A., Branje, S. J. T., & Meeus, W. H. J. (2009). Developmental changes in adolescents’ perceptions of relationships with their parents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9286-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9286-7

13. Delhaye, M., Kempenaers, C., Burton, J., Gooseens, L., & Linkowski, P. (2011). Réflexions sur le concept de détachement adolescentaire [Reflexions about the adolescent detachment concept]. Annales Médico-Psychologiques, 169, 215-220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amp.2010.07.004

14. Erikson E. (1968). Identity, Youth and Crisis. New York: Norton.

15. Koepke, S., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012). Dynamics of identity development and separation-individuation in parent-child relationships during adolescence and emerging adulthood: A conceptual integration. Developmental Review, 32(1), 67–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.01.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.01.001

16. Kroger, J., & Marcia, J. E. (2011). The identity statuses: Origins, meanings, and interpretations. In S. J. Schwartz, K. Luyckx, & V. L. Vignoles (Eds.), Handbook of identity theory and research (pp. 31–53). Springer Science + Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_2

17. Kulchytska, A.V. (2014). Cognitive Interest in the Context of Information Theory of Emotions. East European Journal of Psycholinguistics. Lutsk: Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University, 1, 121-129.

18. Larson, R., Richards, M., Moneta, G., Holmbeck, G., & Duckett, E. (1996). Changes in adolescents’ daily interactions with their families from ages 10–18: disengagement and transformation. Developmental Psychology, 32,744–754. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.32.4.744

19. Meeus, W., & Dekovic′, M. (1995). Identity development, parental and peer support: Results of national Dutch survey. Adolescence, 30, 931-944.

20. Meeus, W., Iedema, J., Maassen, G., & Engels, R. (2005). Separation–individuation revisited: on the interplay of parent–adolescent relations, identity and emotional adjustment in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence 28. 89–106. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2004.07.003

21. Meeus, W. H. J., Branje, S. J. T., van der Valk, I., & de Wied, M. (2007). Relationships with intimate partner, best friend, and parents in adolescence and early adulthood: A study of the saliency of the intimate partnership. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 31(6), 569–580. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025407080584. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025407080584

22. Montgomery, M. J., Hernandez, L., & Ferrer-Wreder, L. (2008). Identity development and intervention studies: The right time for a marriage? Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research, 8(2), 173–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283480801940115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15283480801940115

23. Parra, A., Oliva, A., & Sánchez-Queija, I. (2015). Development of emotional autonomy from adolescence to young adulthood in Spain. Journal of Adolescence, 38, 57–67. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.adolescence.2014.11.003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.11.003

24. Ryan, M., & Lynch, J. (1989). Emotional autonomy versus detachment: Revisiting the vicissitudes of adolescence and young adulthood. Child Development, 60, 340–356. https://doi.org/10. 2307/1130981. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1989.tb02720.x

25. Sara Marie Kintzle Under the Direction of Brian Bride (2012) Secondary traumatic stress in military healthcare providers: an examination into empathy and emotional separation as moderating variables. – 115 p. https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/kintzle_sara_m_201205_phd.pdf.

26. Schwartz, S. J., Zamboanga, B. L., Wang, W., & Olthuis, J. V. (2009). Measuring identity from an Eriksonian perspective: two sides of the same coin? Journal of Personality Assessment, 91, 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890802634266 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890802634266

27. Schwartz, S. J., Hardy, S. A., Zamboanga, B. L., Meca, A., Waterman, A. S., & Picariello, S., et al. (2015). Identity in young adulthood: links with mental health and risky behavior. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 36, 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2014.10.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2014.10.001

28. Shanahan, L., McHale, S. M., Crouter, A. C., & Osgood, D. W. (2007). Warmth with mothers and fathers from middle childhood to late adolescence: Within- and between-families comparisons. Developmental Psychology, 43, 551–563. https://doi.org/10. 1037/0012-1649.43.3.551 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.3.551

29. Sugimura, K. (2020). Adolescent identity development in Japan. Child Development Perspectives, 14(2), 71–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12359

30. Sugimura, K., Crocetti, E., Hatano, K., Kaniušonytė, G., Hihara, S., & Žukauskienė, R. (2018). A cross-cultural perspective on the relationships between emotional separation, parental trust, and identity in adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(4), 749–759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0819-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0819-4

31. Sugimura, K., Hihara, S., Hatano, K., Nakama, R., Saiga, S., & Tsuzuki, M. (2023). Profiles of emotional separation and parental trust from adolescence to emerging adulthood: Age differences and associations with identity and life satisfaction. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52(3), 475–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01716-z. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01716-z

32. Umemura, T., Watanabe, M., Tazuke, K., Asada-Hirano, S., & Kudo, S. (2018). Secure base script and psychological dysfunction in Japanese young adults in the 21st century: Using the attachment script assessment. Developmental Psychology, 54(5), 989–998. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000471 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000471

33. Van Petegem, S., Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., Beyers, W., & Aelterman, N. (2015). Examining the longitudinal association between oppositional defiance and autonomy in adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 51, 67–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0038374 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038374

34. Waterman A. S. (1993). Developmental perspectives on identity formation: from adolescence to adulthood. In J. Marcia,A. Waterman,D. Matteson,S. Archer,& J. Orlofsky (Eds.), Ego Identity (pp. 42–68). New York: Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8330-7_3

35. Youniss J., & Smollar J. (1985). Adolescent Relationships with Mothers, Fathers, and Friends. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

36. Žukauskienė, R., Kaniušonytė, G., Nelson, L. J., Crocetti, E., Malinauskienė, O., Hihara, S., & Sugimura, K. (2020). Objective and subjective markers of transition to adulthood in emerging adults: Their mediating role in explaining the link between parental trust and life satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(12), 3006–3027. https://doi.org/10. 1177/0265407520948621 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407520948621

Published

2024-12-01

How to Cite

Hodyk, S. (2024). Theoretical and methodological analysis of the problem of emotional separation in the process of establishing personal identity in youth. Psychological Prospects Journal, 44. https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2024-44-hod

Similar Articles

21-30 of 402

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.