an adolescent’s characteristic mode of approaching problems and decisions that are relevant to his or her personal identity or sense of self. Differences in style reflect differences in the social-cognitive processes that individuals use to construct a sense of identity. Three basic identity styles are recognized: informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant. Information-oriented individuals actively seek out, evaluate, and use self-relevant information. They are skeptical about their self-constructions and willing to test and revise aspects of their self-identity when confronted with discrepant feedback. Normative individuals deal with identity questions and decisional situations by conforming to the prescriptions and expectations of significant others. Diffuse-avoidant-oriented individuals are reluctant to face up to and confront personal problems and decisions. [introduced in 1988 by U.S. psychologist Michael David Berzonsky
(1943– )]