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Who Am I?
Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development suggests that people start to question their identity during adolescence, but the process of self-discovery continues throughout life. The fifth stage of ego in this theory is called “identity versus role confusion,” and it happens between the ages of 12 and 18. During this stage, teenagers become more independent and try to figure out who they are.
James Marcia published research in the late 1960s about Identity vs. Role confusion in psychosocial development. Identity vs. role confusion is a stage characterized by asking “Who am I,” and learning more about one’s goals, values, and beliefs. School counselors can use the theory to help adolescents with career consultation and collaboration.
PDF File: School Counselors’ Use of Marcia’s Identity Status Theory for Career Advisement and Consultation and Collaboration.
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1326053.pdf
Four Statuses
Marcia’s theory has four “statuses” that require an explanation. The words used types are not fully meaningful without an explanation. The words are diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and achievement.
Identity achievement is when someone has actively explored and examined different values and beliefs and that are most important to them. They can sort out who they want to be and what their life’s purpose is. They realize what their priorities are. Young teens don’t usually have “Identity Achievement” yet. Older teens and young adults usually have mostly sorted out their values, life’s direction, and what is important to them.
The word identity means more than how that word is often used today. Identity refers to a broad range of development areas, such as career goals, personal values, purpose, or relationships. Achieving an identity requires solving challenges that an adolescent must face and resolve.
Identity diffusion indicates that the adolescent has not yet made commitments regarding a one or more developmental areas. They may not have considered alternative career goals, for example. (No commitment and no consideration of important personal decisions).
Foreclosure means that the adolescent has made a commitment without exploration. (An apparent commitment appears to have been made but hasn’t considered alternatives).
In moratorium the adolescent is in a state of active exploration and has made no commitment, or at best an unclear one. This is sort of the opposite of foreclosure. (No commitments have been made in one or more important areas of their life, but they are actively considering alternatives).
Identity achievement signifies that the adolescent (or, young adult) has finished a period of active exploration and has made a related commitment.
Examples
Diffusion: “I don’t know what I’m going to be. I could be a lot of things, I guess.”
Foreclosure: “I’m going to be an influencer, a pro football player, a movie star, or rich.” These teens think they know what they want to “be,” but they haven’t really explored what it takes to become that thing and whether they are willing to work toward it. It’s kind of like wishing or hoping.
Moratorium: “I’ve always known I’ll be a cop—everyone in my family is a cop, and that’s what everyone wants me to be. Really, that’s the only thing I’ve ever thought about.”
Achievement v1: “I’ve had some summer jobs that I didn’t like, but I like talking to people, hearing their stories, and traveling. I will try to be a journalist for one of the magazines I like. There are five of them that I would like to work for. I don’t want to marry or have kids until I’ve seen more of the world.”
Achievement v2: “I’ve got an old truck and can fix things myself if necessary. I like working on things, especially cars. I get good grades, especially in math, and my folks want me to be an accountant for Uncle Jerry’s business, but I will enroll at tech school and then move to a city near the ocean. I could buy a boat, fish, and fix people’s cars. I could paint houses too as a side job and save up for my own house.”
What Are Values
Some examples of values include compassion, courage, honesty, family, religion, curiosity, flexibility, adventure, culture, diversity, respect, beauty, tradition, creativity, kindness, leadership, education, and security. There are hundreds of different jobs and thousands of places to live.
Some measures of Identity Achievement are being independent, fitting in with cultural norms, having a stable job and finishing or continuing education, knowing what kinds of friends and family someone wants, and where and how they plan to live. An adolescent or young adult doesn’t have to have everything figured out to be considered “Identity Achieved” – but they will have tried on several different hats, thoughtfully considered options, and have some clear goals for their future.
Questions
How does the theory of psychosocial development help adolescents with career consultation and collaboration?
What are the four “statuses” in Marcia’s theory of psychosocial development, and how do they differ from each other?
Why is it important for adolescents to explore different values and beliefs while identifying their priorities and life’s purpose?
These are opinions. Other people might disagree.
At 13
Take this time to explore different options, avoid settling for what others want you to be, and use this time to develop your skills. By doing this, you’ll be in a better position to make a well-informed decision about your future. Stay curious, stay open-minded, and stay true to yourself.
As you enter your teenage years, you may start to think about what you want to be when you grow up. It’s natural to feel unsure or overwhelmed with the possibilities. But you can navigate this exciting time in your life and achieve a strong sense of who you are by the time you are a young adult. Take the time to research and discover different careers, hobbies, and interests that genuinely speak to you.
Be cautious to settle for what others want you to be or what you think you should be. It helps to think through different paths before making a decision. Considering your family’s traditions or expectations is important, but don’t let let anyone dictate your future entirely.
It’s OK not to have everything figured out at 13. Very few people have things all figured out by thirteen. Use the next several years to develop your skills, try new things, and gain more experience. And reflect on what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what motivates you. By doing this, you’ll be better positioned to make a well-informed decision about your future.
In time, you’ll understand what you want to do, what you’re willing to work towards, and what you want to achieve. This process takes time, but it’s worth investing in yourself to gain a strong identity. Remember, your future is yours to create. Stay curious, listen to advice from your parents and other trusted adults, stay open-minded, and stay true to yourself.
At 20
If you’re feeling unsure about who you are and what you want to do in your twenties, it’s perfectly natural. Here are five practical steps you can take to help you achieve a strong sense of identity:
1. Start narrowing down the options and develop those skill: Instead of worrying about not having everything figured out, focus on a few things and evaluate those. This will help you discover what genuinely speaks to and motivates you. Try landing a job you never thought about before. You can do this whether you’re still in school or finished with school. Work experience is important for the experience itself, the paycheck, and feeling independent.
2. Refrain from settling for what others want you to be: Don’t settle for what others want you to be or what society tells you is expected of you. Allow yourself the freedom to discover what you truly want. Still, you need to balance being “entitled” (financial support from family, for example) and “independent.” Avoid being financially reliant on other so you can work toward your expectations of yourself. At twenty, it’s time to start planning to “move out of the basement.” Twenty is still young. There are years ahead to reach goals
3. Reflect on what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what motivates you: Take time to reflect on what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what motivates you. This self-discovery process will help you better understand what you want to do and what you’re willing to work towards.
4. Stay curious, open-minded, and true to yourself: It’s essential to stay curious, open-minded, and true to yourself. Don’t worry about what others are doing or achieving. Focus on your journey and trust the process.
5. Create your own future: Remember, your future is yours to create. With time, patience, and perseverance, you will reach a strong sense of identity that is true to you. Just keep moving forward, and don’t be afraid to take risks or make mistakes along the way.
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