Development & Identity

Development of behavior, personality, and an identity is todays topic! I find it fascinating how inconsequential events in an individuals life can have resounding implications on the personality and identity. The end result is a dramatic adjustment in behavior.

I won't go into crackpot-Freudian theories because well they are way out there and really do not; in my humble opinion, hold any water whatsoever (apparently Freudian theories are boats?). One of the things that I find exceptionally interesting in the formation of personality and identity is simply the timing of puberty.

Early, late, or on time puberty can lead to quite different identities. For instance, if a woman develops earlier than the rest of her peers she will likely develop more severe body image issues and potentially be involved in increased sexual activity throughout her teens. Women that develop later are not in the clear! These women may develop poor self images due to inadequacies from late development.

Men; on the other hand, develop identities and personalities based on early or late puberty too! Men that develop earlier generally are more popular and looked up upon by their peers. However, due to this, men will continually strive to be more adult-like as their peers start to catch up. This leads to potential smoking, drug use, sex, and crime. Men that develop later are generally more quiet and picked on for being "less" of a man than their peers. Essentially with men you have your alpha males (those whom developed early) and beta males (those whom developed late).

Simply developing earlier or later can determine your personality and how an individual views themselves. This basic developmental period shoots ripples through the identity, which can last a life time! Consider that an alpha male may be more prone to violence and substance abuse throughout his entire life due to pressures placed upon him. Is the mean spirited drunk really just a dick or was he an overly pressured boy that developed earlier? Is the quiet man that never talks to anybody really quiet or is he a repressed man afraid to speak and possibly be chastised.

Don't try to get me wrong; the mean drunk is still a mean drunk but this really makes you think about how people develop into the people they are today. Perhaps, just perhaps, inside every adult is just a child that is trying to cope.