Final answer:
Adolescents go through the identity versus role confusion stage where they try to develop a sense of self and answer questions about their identity and future. Successful adolescents develop a strong sense of identity, while those who are apathetic or pressured by their parents may have a weak sense of self and experience confusion about their identity and future.
Step-by-step explanation:
In adolescence (ages 12-18), children face the task of identity versus role confusion. According to Erikson, an adolescent's main task is developing a sense of self. Adolescents struggle with questions such as "Who am I?" and "What do I want to do with my life?" Along the way, most adolescents try on many different selves to see which ones fit. Adolescents who are successful at this stage have a strong sense of identity and are able to remain true to their beliefs and values in the face of problems and other people's perspectives. What happens to apathetic adolescents, who do not make a conscious search for identity, or those who are pressured to conform to their parents' ideas for the future? These teens will have a weak sense of self and experience role confusion. They are unsure of their identity and confused about the future.