Общий тред twitch`a т.2

Some people never really get past may become fixated on the adolescent identity development phase where we explore our sense of self and how we fit into society.

In high school teenagers are often experimenting with their social and group identities, changing how they dress and act, etc, while gauging the responses others have to them and how they feel about it. Easy example is when you have kids all of a sudden decide that they're "Goth" for a few years in high school and then soon after they abandon that identity to integrate more easily into society.

Cases where a presumably grown adult (I don't know this person's age) behaves like this might be considered a form of stunted development in some instances but not necessarily a sign of mental illness. They are trying to form a unique identity that both distinguishes themselves from the herd while conforming with the norms of a certain social group (albeit a fringe one). Ultimately it's harmless, sure it's cringey to some, but if it doesn't effect you at all just let them be. Maybe in 5 years or so they'll look back and wince at themselves just like people who are more "normal" are often embarrassed at past behaviors.

*Edit: Always funny getting called an "armchair psychologist" over the internet when you literally have a Master's in Psychology.

*Response to comment below (thread got locked):

I don't have anything against that person but does it really have to be streamed to complete strangers? Isn't this one of the things you want to keep private? Or does this unique identity have to be shown to the outside world?

People have a strong desire for acceptance and a sense of belonging. Nobody wants to feel ostracized from others, in our evolutionary past it was essentially a death sentence. Nowadays the stakes aren't so high, but social exclusion/ostracism are associated with poor mental health outcomes and can have lasting consequences on the brain. By keeping it private they would continue to feel ashamed of themselves and are essentially admitting that they don't "deserve" to fit in. By sharing it they allow the opportunity for others like them to also feel a sense of belonging and thereby decrease that internal sense of shame about their identity, while at the same time moving to normalize the behavior to others.

**Last edit: I really appreciate all the positive comments, gilding, and support, really didn't expect this to get so much attention. I'd like as a final point to reiterate that I do not mean to say that this sort of behavior is indicative of any sort of developmental/mental disorder, rather it could possibly be thought of as a fixation on the psycho-social phase of identity development. I do not claim to be an expert on matters involving the furry community or related issues, and I am aware of the overlap with the lgbtq+ community and understand the complexity that brings. I simply wanted to apply some psychological frameworks broadly in hopes that it could help explain things to people who might be confused or feel inclined to react negatively due to social stigma.