Group identity and alienation: Giving the we its due

The purpose of this paper is to argue for greater understanding and valuing of group affiliation and the formation of allegiances to groups during ear ly adolescence. An overemphasis on themes of individual identity, self-reli ance, and autonomy as the developmental trajectory of adolescence leads to a lack of attention to the positive, normative mechanisms that permit young adolescents to achieve a sense of belonging and connection. We propose dev elopmental processes which underlie the capacity for reflection about group s, 4 basic components of group identity, and 6 propositions about new capac ities that emerge as young adolescents struggle with the dialectic between group identity and alienation. The final section suggests opportunities tha t can emerge through a more appropriate emphasis on group identity as a val ued, normative aspect of development during the early adolescent years.