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AdolescenceAdolescence

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Introduction Who am I?Introduction Who am I?• Identity clearly important topic in

adolescence.• This search is easily

misunderstood, and often it is only dimly perceived by the individual himself, because young people must often test extremes before setting on a considered course.

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•Adolescents can experiment with various roles and senses of self by trying them out and seeing which ones they (and their peers) like. – Identity involves a variety of aspects: gender, sexual, occupational, political, religious, moral, etc.

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• James Marcia expanded on Erikson’s work and divided the identity crisis into four states.

• These are not stages, but rather processes that adolescents go through. All adolescents will occupy one or more of these states, at least temporarily.

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• But, because these are not stages, people do not progress from one step to the next in a fixed sequence, nor must everyone go through each and every state. Each state is determined by two factors:

• Is the adolescent committed to an identity, and

• Is the individual searching for their true identity?

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Although some identity crises are cataclysmic and totally preoccupying, identity formation usually proceeds in a much more gradual and unconscious way.

It gets done by bits and pieces…

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Decisions may seem trivial at the time: whom to date, whether or not to break up, having intercourse…Each of these decisions has identity-forming implications.

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•Adolescents can decide to adopt the morals, values, and behaviors of their parents, thus choosing an identity.

•James Marcia identified crisis and commitment as the major variables leading to a state of identity.

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• Diffusion:I haven't chosen the occupation I really want to get into, but I'm working toward becoming a __ until something better comes along. When it comes to religion, I just haven't found any that I'm really into myself.

• Foreclosure:I guess I'm pretty much like my folks when it comes to politics. I follow what they do in terms of voting and such. I've never really questioned my religion. If it's right for my parents, it must be right for me.

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• Moratorium: I just can't decide how capable I am as a person and what jobs I'll be right for. There are so many different political parties and ideals, I can't decide which to follow until I figure it all out.

• Identity Achievement: A person's faith is unique to each individual. I've considered and reconsidered it myself and know what I can believe.

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Rounding out the picture: Rounding out the picture: DiffusionDiffusion

• Deal with existential anxiety with involvement in immediate, right now sensation

• More feelings of inferiority, alienation, and ambivalence; poorer self‑concept; less clear sex‑role identification.

• In general, less mature in cognitive complexity, emotional development, and general social development

• Less cooperative, more manipulative and deceptive.

• Associate with other uncommitted kids. • Least likely to have intimate, long‑term

relationships.• Perceives parents as rejecting; youth and mother

both describe the other as unaffectionate

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-5

5

15

25

35

45

55

65

75

Diffusion

Foreclos.

Achieve.

Morator.

AGE

% I

N E

AC

H I

DE

NT

ITY

ST

AT

US

12-5

5

15

25

35

45

55

65

75

Diffusion

Foreclos.

Achieve.

Morator.

15 18 21 24

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Marcia’s 2 X 2 ClassificationMarcia’s 2 X 2 Classification Commitment Present Absent

Achieve.

Moratorium

Foreclosure

Diffusion

Cri

ses (

Exp

lora

tion

)

A

bse

nt

Pre

sen

t

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Rounding out the picture: Rounding out the picture: ForeclosureForeclosure

• More use of denial and repression. • Quiet, orderly, and industrious lifestyle.

Endorse authoritarian values (obedience, strong leadership and respect for authority).

• Often come from warm and affectionate homes, and the kids continue to be dependent upon their parents.

• Constricted personalities, rigid in their commitments.

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Rounding out the picture: Rounding out the picture: MoratoriumMoratorium

• The most anxious, and exploratory. Lack well‑defined goals and values; self‑conscious.

• Appear to be comfortable with others, and are generally socially adept and effective.

• Feelings of guilt and difficulty in maintaining dignity are common ‑‑ seem torn.

• High perceived companionship, physical affection, and support of parents.

• Parents perceive child as independent.

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Rounding out the picture: Rounding out the picture: Identity AchievementIdentity Achievement

• A harmonious balance between individuation and social needs for relatedness.

• Self‑confidence, security, social adeptness, emotional maturity, advanced ego development.

• More intimate and long‑term relationships.• High perceived companionship, physical affection,

and support of parents.• Parental perceptions of high levels of

independence.

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Criticisms of Marcia’s Criticisms of Marcia’s ApproachApproach

• Marcia has oversimplified Erickson's notion• Many faucets to identity: gender, ideology,

religion, occupational, etc. When individuals are assigned to one of the four cells in the table, all the domains are typically not considered.

• The age of assessment is obviously important. If people are changing ‑‑ more are becoming identity achieved ‑‑ it is obviously important to choose a critical age when one ascertains parent‑child relationship history information.

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• Cognitive influences• Parenting influences—authoritative

parents; provide opportunities for responsible freedom while providing a foundation of support

• Scholastic influences: college push people toward setting career goals and making stable vocational commitments, but may delay political and religious commitments

• Peer influences• Cultural-historical influences—did identity

crises occur in our hunter-gatherer history?