title: Shedding light on the dark side of identity: Introduction to the special issue.
abstract: The aim of this special issue is to shed light in the dark side of identity formation in adolescence and emerging adulthood, that is, to provide some understanding in what exactly can go wrong in identity development. After summarizing the recent developments in identity development literature, in this introduction the main findings of all thirteen empirical papers are summarized into three overarching themes: (1) lack of identity integration as a risk factor, (2) reconsideration of commitment as a sign of identity uncertainty, and (3) ruminative exploration as another risk factor undermining healthy identity development. Finally, given that all papers in this special issue are based on conference presentations at the 14th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA), some more information on that conference is included in this introduction.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.crocetti@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crocetti
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: wim.beyers@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beyers
authors.affiliation: TED University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Çok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D006801:Humans; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Adolescence; Dark side of identity; Emerging adulthood; Identity development