Personal identity in Italy

Abstract

This chapter discusses specifics of identity formation in Italian adolescents and emerging adults. We review consistent evidence illustrating that, in Italy, a progressive deferral of transition to adulthood strongly impacts youth identity development by stimulating identity exploration and postponement of identity commitments. We also consider the influence of ecological contexts and specific Italian groups (i.e., immigrant adolescents and those who drop out of school, youth living in disadvantaged areas in the south of Italy, and emerging adults who are unemployed or hold precarious jobs) for which the identity formation process is particularly challenging.

Future-oriented or present-focused? The role of social support and identity styles on ‘futuring’ in Italian late adolescents and emerging adults

“…Given the challenging social and economic contexts in which Italian youth live, it is not surprising that we are noting changes in developmental pathways. For example, when compared to their Northern European peers, Italian late adolescents and emerging adults demonstrate a postponement of identity choices (Crocetti, Rabaglietti, and Sica 2012;Sica, Aleni Sestito, and Ragozini 2014). Furthermore, the image of the future as a controllable and governable time is shrinking, and as a result, 'the present looks like the only temporal dimension available for defining choices, an authentic existential horizon that, in a certain sense, includes and replaces future and past' (Leccardi 2006, 41).…”

“…In doing so, we focused on a specific cultural context (the Italian one), which can be considered an exemplar of southern-Mediterranean societies in terms of the new transition patterns discussed earlier: (1) identity achievement postponement; (2) weak labor market; and (3) the prolonged family support. In Italy, a delayed transition to adulthood and a pervasive socioeconomic crisis have been affecting the ways in which young people organize their time (e.g., Leccardi 2005), develop their identity (e.g., Crocetti, Rabaglietti, and Sica 2012), and structure their relational systems (e.g., Scabini, Marta, and Lanz 2006). In particular, it has been documented that young Italian people, like their peers from other Southern 2 L.S.…”

Working status and perception of adulthood: a comparison between Italian and Dutch emerging adults

“…The Dutch labor market is characterized by a relatively high degree of part-time work in newly created jobs, and a "flexicurity" approach which optimizes flexibility as well as work security (Wilthagen, 1998). On the other hand, the peculiarities of the Italian context seem to lead to a general delay syndrome, which is related to different aspects of individual adjustment as identity development (Crocetti, Rabaglietti, & Sica, 2012) and the construction of a new family (Roggero, Vacirca, Mauri, & Ciairano, 2012). While in Italy the role of the family is central to the societal organization (Naldini, 2003), in the Netherlands youths usually leave the parental house well before marriage.…”

The “Futuring” Dilemma in Narrative Identity: A Longitudinal Study of Future Vocational Plans Among Italian Freshmen

“…For example, when compared to their Northern European peers, Italian late adolescents and young adults demonstrate a postponement of identity choices (Crocetti, Rabaglietti, & Sica, 2012;Sica, Aleni Sestito, & Ragozini, 2014). Furthermore, the image of the future as a controllable and governable time is shrinking, and as a result, "the present looks like the only temporal dimension available for defining choices, an authentic existential horizon that, in a certain sense, includes and replaces future and past" (Leccardi, 2006, p. 41).…”

“…For these reasons, in some contexts particularly exposed to the economic crisis of recent years, this process has become more and more problematic and difficult, a source of discomfort and stress (Berman & Montgomery, 2014). Research findings documented for young people show that, even though they have decided to prolong their studies and invest in specialized post-graduate university studies and training courses, the presence of identity postponement (Crocetti, Rabaglietti, & Sica, 2012) in some cases is linked to identity distress and anxiety (Sica, Aleni Sestito, & Ragozini, 2014) and to a general sense of discomfort in future plans and present focusing (Adams, 2009;Leccardi, 2006). However, our question is how young people, in a context of poor career and work opportunities, can explore and commit their vocational identity and how they can build a clear sense of who they are and where they are going in their lives.…”