Adolescent Personality Pathology and the Development of Identity, Relationships, and Civic Engagement

Adolescence involves navigating several developmental tasks, including identity formation, the establishment of close relationships, and engagement with broader social roles. Personality disorders (PDs) involve impairments in these domains, yet personality pathology has received limited attention in developmental science. In this review, we integrate research on personality development and psychopathology to argue that maladaptive personality trajectories emerge through the same processes that support normative development. Rather than viewing PDs as discrete syndromes, we conceptualize personality pathology as persistent difficulties in personality functioning—particularly problems with identity, relationships, and civic engagement—that arise through repeated person–environment transactions. We examine each of these domains, considering how trait vulnerabilities and contextual experiences interact to shape adaptive or maladaptive pathways in adolescence. We also discuss contemporary contexts such as online environments and youth activism. Integrating personality science with developmental research can clarify how personality pathology consolidates in adolescence and identify new opportunities for prevention and intervention.