Which is a developmental task of Later Adolescence?

• A. Autonomy from parents
• B. Gender identity
• C. Internalized morality
• D. Career choice

Answer: (C)

In late adolescence, moral development centers on internalizing values into a personal ethical framework. Teens move from following rules to guiding their behavior by their own principles, deciding what’s right based on a formed sense of fairness, responsibility, and respect for others. This internalization supports self-regulation and ethical decision-making as they take on adult roles and responsibilities.

Autonomy from parents is a broader task of gaining independence, which occurs across adolescence and continues, but it isn’t as specifically tied to forming an internal value system. Gender identity is largely established earlier in adolescence, not uniquely in late adolescence. Career choice tends to become more prominent in the transition to adulthood (emerging adulthood), whereas internalized morality is the defining feature of late-adolescent moral development.