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identity crisis

the condition of being uncertain of one's feelings about oneself, esp. with regard to character, goals, and origins, occurring esp. in adolescence as a result of growing up under disruptive, fast-changing conditions

Origin: coined by E. Erikson (1902-94), U.S. psychoanalyst

See identity crisis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A psychosocial state or condition of disorientation and role confusion occurring especially in adolescents as a result of conflicting internal and external experiences, pressures, and expectations and often producing acute anxiety.
  2. An analogous state of confusion occurring in a social structure, such as an institution or a corporation.

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