Identity Erikson termed the period of adolescence a psychological moratorium, a gap between the security of childhood and autonomy of adulthood. His fifth stage of development is characterized by the dilemma of identity versus identity confusion. Adolescents experiment with the numerous roles and identities they draw from the surrounding culture. Either they successfully cope with conflicting identities or they don’t resolve their identity crisis.

Some Contemporary Thoughts about Identity Identity development is a lengthy process. Identity development is extraordinarily complex.

Identity Statuses and Development James Marcia concluded that four identity statuses, or modes of resolution, appear in Erikson’s theory. The extent of an adolescent’s commitment and crisis is used to classify him or her according to one of the four statuses.

Crisis and Commitment Crisis – a period of identity development during which the adolescent is choosing among meaningful alternatives Commitment – the part of identity development in which adolescents show a personal investment in what they are going to do

Marcia’s Identity Statuses Identity Diffusion Identity Foreclosure Identity Moratorium Identity Achievement

The Development of Identity Young adolescents are primarily in identity diffusion, foreclosure, or moratorium status. Three fundamental aspects of young adolescents’ development with regard to identity formation are: –confidence in parental support –a sense of industry –a self-reflective perspective on the future Some researchers believe the most important identity changes take place during college.

Family Influences on Identity Authoritative parents, who encourage adolescents to participate in family decision making, foster identity achievement. Authoritarian parents, who control the adolescents’ behaviour, encourage identity foreclosure. Permissive parents, who provide little guidance to adolescents and allow them to make their own decisions, promote identity diffusion. The presence of a family atmosphere that promotes both individuality and connectedness is important in adolescents’ identity development.

Ethnic Identity Ethnic identity is an enduring, basic aspect of the self that includes a sense of membership in an ethnic group and the attitudes and feelings related to that membership.

Cultural and Ethnic Aspects of Identity Most ethnic minority individuals consciously confront their ethnicity for the first time in adolescence. For adolescents from ethnic minority groups, the process of identity formation has an added dimension due to exposure to alternative sources of identification. Ethnic identity increases with age. Higher levels of ethnic identity are linked with more positive attitudes towards both one’s own group and members of other ethnic groups. Racism, discrimination, and bigotry were cited as factors influencing their relationships with authority figures and their ability to find employment.

Gender and Identity Development Erikson asserted that males’ aspirations were mainly oriented towards career and ideological commitments. He asserted that females’ aspirations were centred around marriage and child bearing. Researchers in the 1960s and 1970s found support for these gender differences. In the past 20 years, females have developed stronger vocational interests and thus the differences are turning into similarities.