Infancy to Adulthood Week 16.4

Today’s objectives To understand Marcia’s 4 Identity states. To be able to apply the identity states to different case studies.

Developing identity How would you describe yourself? Write down one paragraph about you.

Developing Identity 6 year old Tracy: I am a girl and my name is Tracy. I live with my Mum, Dad and my sister. Her name is Deborah. We live in a house with a big backyard. We have two cats and my cat is called Tiger. I like playing dress ups.

Marcia’s Identity States Marcia defines identity as: “An internal, self-constructed, organisation of drives, abilities, beliefs and individual history.”

Marcia’s Identity States Marcia interviewed students aged 18 to 22 years about their occupational choices, religious and political beliefs, and values… The criteria for the attainment of a mature identity is based on two essential variables: crisis and commitment.

Marcia’s Identity States Crisis - refers to times during adolescence when the individual seems to be actively involved in choosing among alternative occupations and beliefs Commitment - refers to the degree of personal investment the individual expresses in an occupation or belief

Marcia’s 4 Identity States: 1.Identity diffusion or identity confusion 2.Identity foreclosure 3.Identity moratorium 4.Identity achievement

Marcia’s 4 Identity States Identity diffusion or identity confusion Individuals who have not yet experienced an identity crisis, nor made any commitment to a vocation or set of beliefs.

Marcia’s 4 Identity States Identity foreclosure Individuals who have not experienced crisis, but have made commitments. However, commitments are not the result of the individual’s own searching and exploring, but are handed to the individual by others, frequently parents.

Marcia’s 4 Identity States Identity moratorium Individuals who are in a state of crisis. Exploring and actively searching for alternatives, struggling to find their identity. Have not yet made any commitment (or have only developed very temporary kinds of commitment).

Marcia’s 4 Identity States Identity achievement Individuals who have experienced crises but have resolved them on their own terms, and as a result have made a personal commitment to an occupation, a religious belief, a personal value system, a sexual identity or any other element of their identity.

Your turn! Megan is a 14-year-old who, when asked what she wants to do when she graduates from high school, replies, “Maybe I will get married and have some children, or maybe I will be a neurosurgeon, or a fashion designer.”

Your turn! Seventeen-year-old Sarah is questioning the tenets of the religion in which she was brought up. She is, for the first time, examining her beliefs and considering other belief systems. At the end of the period, she chooses to follow the same religion as her parents.

Your turn! Lauren is 16 years old and, when asked what she wants to do when she graduates from high school, replies, “I never really thought about it. I guess I will decide when the time comes.”

Your turn! After Hugh graduates from high school, he plans to go into his father’s business. He has been talking this over with his parents since he was a preschooler and is eager to fulfill his parents’ expectations.

Your turn! Michael was asked to debate issues concerning premarital sex in his health class. His parents always taught him that premarital sex was wrong and that they would be very disappointed if they discovered he had engaged in it himself. After thoroughly investigating the consequences of premarital sex, Michael came out against it.

Personal Quiz 1. Politics is something that: a. I can never be too sure about because things change so fast. But I do think it's important to know what I can politically stand for and believe in b. I haven't really considered because it doesn't excite me much. c. I feel pretty much the same way as my family. I follow what they do in terms of voting and such. d. I have thought through. I realize I can agree with some and not other aspects of what my family believes.

Personal Quiz 2. When it comes to religion, a. I'm not sure what religion means to me. I'd like to make up my mind but I'm not done looking yet. b. I don't give religion much thought and it doesn't bother me one way or the other. c. I've gone through a period of serious questions about faith and can now say I understand what I believe in as an individual d. I've never really questioned my religion. If it's right for my family it must be right for me.

Personal Quiz 3. Regarding my career choice, a. I haven't really settled on a career and I'm just taking whatever jobs are available until something good comes along. b. I'm still trying to decide where my career interests lie and actively thinking about what jobs will be right for me. c. I thought a little about my career, but there's never really any question since my parents said what they wanted for me. d. It took me a while to figure it out, but now I really know that I am on the right career path.

Personal Quiz 4. With regard to men's and women's roles: a. my views are identical to those of my family. What has worked for them will obviously work for me b. I've never really seriously considered men's and women's roles. It just doesn't seem to concern me. c. I've spent some time thinking about men's and women's roles and I've decided what works best for me. d. There are so many ways to define men's and women's role; I'm trying to decide what will work for me.

Scoring the Personal Quiz: Here's the guide to the answers: Politics: a= Moratorium b= Diffuse c=Foreclosed d=Achieved Religion: a= Moratorium b= Diffuse c= Achieved d= Foreclosed Career: a= Diffuse b= Moratorium c= Foreclosed d= Achieved Gender Role: a= Foreclosed b= Diffuse c=Achieved 4= Moratorium