According to Erikson, achieving a sense of identity is the special task of the:

Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory emphasizes the importance of identity formation during adolescence. During this stage, which he termed "identity vs. role confusion," adolescents are tasked with exploring their personal values, beliefs, and goals. This exploration is critical for establishing a strong sense of self, as they begin to define who they are outside the context of their family and childhood roles.

As teenagers navigate social relationships, role expectations, and self-perceptions, they deal with questions about their future, including career choices and personal identity. Successfully resolving these challenges leads to a coherent and stable sense of identity, while failure may result in confusion about one's role in society.

In contrast, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school children are focused on different psychosocial tasks. For example, toddlers are generally engaged in developing autonomy, while preschoolers work on initiative, and elementary school children deal with industry versus inferiority. Each of these stages carries its own developmental challenges that differ significantly from the identity exploration typical in adolescence.