IDENTITY STATUS

james e marcia

known for his research on identity development in late adolescence, specifically his identification of four identity statuses

identity

sense of who one is as a person and as a contributor to society

1. political identity

2. vocational/career identity

3. religious identity

4. sexual identity

5. achievement, intellectual identity

6. cultural/ethnic identity

7. interests

8. personality

9. physical identity

types of identity

1. identity diffusion

2. identity foreclosure

3. identity moratorium

4. identity achievement

four identity statuses

crisis

period of identity development during which the adolescent is exploring alternatives

commitment

part of identity development in which adolescents show a personal investment in identity

identity diffusion

individual does not have firm commitments regarding the issues in question and is not making progress toward them

identity foreclosure

individual has not engaged in any identity experimentation and has extablished an identity based on the choices or values of others

identity moratorium

individual is exploring various choices but has not yet made a clear commitment to any of them

identity achievement

individual has attained a coherent and committed identity based on personal decisions

1. western individualistic context

2. limited exploration opportunities

3. applicability to sexual identity

4. oversimplification of identity stages

5. ignores socioeconomic and cultural barriers

6. narrow focus on positive functioning

drawbacks of identity status theory