The intersection of identity development and peer relationship processes in adolescence and young adulthood: contributions of the special issue

Abstract

This analysis of the papers in the special section on the intersection of identity development and peer relationship processes calls attention to conceptual contribution this collection of papers makes to the literature on identity development. Together these ten papers build on strong theoretical foundations in identity development, which posit close relationship contexts as central to the development of self-awareness and self-representation. The complex and innovative methodologies employed across these studies allow for the analysis of intersecting and interacting influence of multiple relationship types, and facilitate the analysis of culture and gender as they relate to identity development and peer processes. Together, these papers make a powerful contribution to the current literature and provide a foundation for future research.