According to Erikson’s theory, which age group is challenged by "identity vs. role confusion"?

Erikson’s theory emphasizes the importance of identity formation during the adolescent stage of development. The conflict of "identity vs. role confusion" typically occurs between the ages of approximately 12 and 18. During this vital period, adolescents are exploring their own identities, experimenting with different roles, beliefs, and values, which ultimately helps them to establish a sense of self.

This stage is crucial as it lays the foundation for the individual's future social and emotional development. Successfully resolving this conflict leads to a strong sense of identity, while failure may result in confusion about one's place in society and the difficulty in establishing personal goals.

Understanding this developmental task highlights why this age group is particularly challenged with issues surrounding identity and social roles, making them susceptible to confusion about who they are and where they fit within their community. In contrast, the other groups mentioned—preschoolers, adults, and young children—are not primarily engaged in identity exploration to the same extent as adolescents, which is why their developmental challenges differ from the identity issues faced during adolescence.