What is it about?
From ancient times to contemporary days, explaining the relationship between young people's identity development and their participation in outdoor adventure has been elusive. This paper highlights the characteristics of communitas explaining how this occurs. Excitingly, now communitas can answer the age old conundrum of how outdoor adventure contributes to young people's identity development. In addition, the relevance of communitas for young people’s identity development in the twenty-first century can be explored.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Young people who live in a contemporary society are expected to confidently relate to a life full of complexities. Their preparedness to follow opportunities and bounce back from disappointment turns toward the importance of them developing their resilience. Building a sense of confidence and maturity need be part of their identity development. Government agencies, policy makers, program developers, indeed, anyone working with young people should read this paper. The potential role of outdoor adventure characterised as communitas in young people’s identity development is timely and deserves attention.
Perspectives
Understanding communitas in relation to young people’s personal development in contemporary life is an exciting discovery. First, communitas answers an age old question that has eluded philosophers and more as to how outdoor adventure benefits young people’s identity development. Second, it links a traditional rite of passage to a twenty-first century context. Thus, there is potential to better prepare young people for contemporary life with increased sense of confidence and maturity through participating in outdoor adventure programs characterised as communitas. I hope this research benefits young people - I dedicate the study to Matthew, a young man whose spirit is the wind beneath its sails!
Dianne Ashworth
Deakin University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Can communitas explain how young people achieve identity development in outdoor adventure in light of contemporary individualised life?, Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, March 2017, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2017.1294489.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
