Has your teenager turned into an alien?
A person's identity is formed in the family of origin. Until puberty, it is hard to think of ourselves apart from our family. It is in our family that we acquire the majority of our attitudes, beliefs, and values. And our self-concept is shaped by what we believe our parents think of us. During puberty, however, the process of differentiation begins. It is by this process that teenagers establish an identity separate from their family. During the process of differentiation and identity formation, the adolescent is often caught between the family and the peer group. This is a time when parents throw up their hands in despair, wonder what happened to their son/daughter, and are at a loss as to how to deal with their beloved one.
Differentiation of the self involves both the psychological separation of intellect and emotion, and independence of the self from others. In the process of individuation, individuals acquire a sense of self-identity. This differentiation from the family of origin enables them to accept personal responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and actions.