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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

Published on: March 1, 2017

Personal identity in Italy.

Elisabetta Crocetti¹, Emanuela Rabaglietti, Luigia Simona Sica

¹Psychology, Research Centre on Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. e.crocetti@uu.nl

New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development

|December 11, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Italian adolescents and emerging adults are delaying adulthood, leading to extended identity exploration and commitment postponement. Specific contexts, like disadvantaged areas or unemployment, present unique identity formation challenges.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Sociology
Developmental Science

Background:

Identity formation is a critical developmental task during adolescence and emerging adulthood.
Societal changes, such as delayed transitions to adulthood, influence identity development trajectories.
Ecological contexts and specific demographic groups face unique challenges in identity formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the specifics of identity formation in Italian adolescents and emerging adults.
To review evidence on the impact of delayed adulthood transitions on youth identity.
To consider the influence of diverse ecological contexts and vulnerable Italian youth groups on identity processes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of consistent evidence on identity formation in Italy.
Analysis of factors influencing identity exploration and commitment postponement.
Examination of contextual and group-specific challenges in identity development.

Main Results:

A progressive deferral of transition to adulthood in Italy stimulates prolonged identity exploration.
Delayed commitments are a significant consequence of postponed adulthood transitions for Italian youth.
Immigrant youth, school dropouts, those in disadvantaged areas, and unemployed/precariously employed individuals face particularly challenging identity formation.

Conclusions:

The Italian context, characterized by delayed adulthood transitions, shapes a distinct pattern of identity development.
Ecological factors and subgroup characteristics significantly moderate identity formation processes.
Understanding these nuances is crucial for supporting youth identity development in diverse Italian populations.