Identity Development IBackgroundSlide 3Theoretical background: Erik EriksonWe go through a series of eight psychosocial stagesTHE PSYCHOSOCIAL MORATORIUMPROBLEMS WITH IDENTITY DEVELOPMENTPROCESS OF IDENTITY DEVELOPMENTIDENTITY STATUSESIMPLICATIONS OF IDENTITY STATUSESIDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LIFESPANGENDER AND IDENTITYIdentity Development Identity Development IIBackgroundBackgroundA developmental task of adolescence is A developmental task of adolescence is to begin to develop a to begin to develop a sense of identitysense of identityWho are you?Who are you?Where are you headed?Where are you headed?What is your purpose?What is your purpose?What are your values?What are your values?BackgroundBackgroundCurrent research shows that the Current research shows that the process of identity development process of identity development is lifelongis lifelongDuring adolescence we become During adolescence we become aware aware of changes, discrepancies, of changes, discrepancies, problems, and contradictions in problems, and contradictions in identityidentityTheoretical background: Theoretical background: Erik EriksonErik EriksonWe go through a series of We go through a series of eight psychosocial stageseight psychosocial stagesEach stage has a crisis which must Each stage has a crisis which must be successfully resolved in order be successfully resolved in order to move onto the next stageto move onto the next stageThe adolescent crisis is that of The adolescent crisis is that of identity versus identity diffusionidentity versus identity diffusionYoung adult crisis is that of Young adult crisis is that of intimacy versus isolation intimacy versus isolationTHE PSYCHOSOCIAL THE PSYCHOSOCIAL MORATORIUMMORATORIUMMORATORIUM-MORATORIUM-A time of explorationA time of explorationAccording to Erikson, the difficulties with ID during According to Erikson, the difficulties with ID during modern times make a moratorium (a modern times make a moratorium (a ““time outtime out””) ) necessary for optimal IDnecessary for optimal IDSo many options!So many options!Changing gender roles – more opportunities for women tooChanging gender roles – more opportunities for women tooAccording to Erikson, adolescence is According to Erikson, adolescence is ideally ideally period period of moratorium, when youth can remain in school and of moratorium, when youth can remain in school and experiment with who they are and plans for the futureexperiment with who they are and plans for the futureCriticism: Only for those who are able, not culturally Criticism: Only for those who are able, not culturally universaluniversalMoratorium is defining characteristic of Emerging Moratorium is defining characteristic of Emerging AdulthoodAdulthoodPROBLEMS WITH IDENTITY PROBLEMS WITH IDENTITY DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTAccording to EriksonAccording to Erikson, adolescents can , adolescents can run into run into three specific problems with three specific problems with identityidentityIDENTITY DIFFUSION: IDENTITY DIFFUSION: Did not successfully Did not successfully resolve identity crisis. Characterized by resolve identity crisis. Characterized by incomplete, disjointed identityincomplete, disjointed identityIDENTITY FORECLOSURE: IDENTITY FORECLOSURE: Premature commitment Premature commitment to identity before period of explorationto identity before period of explorationNEGATIVE IDENTITYNEGATIVE IDENTITY: Selection of : Selection of ““undesirableundesirable”” identity identityPROCESS OF IDENTITY PROCESS OF IDENTITY DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTDevelopment in all domains does not Development in all domains does not happen at same timehappen at same timeExamples: Occupation, ideology, religion, Examples: Occupation, ideology, religion, education, sexual identity, sexual education, sexual identity, sexual orientation, work and family balanceorientation, work and family balanceYou can be at one place in ID for one You can be at one place in ID for one domain, but another for a different domain, but another for a different domaindomainIDENTITY STATUSESIDENTITY STATUSESResearch by Research by JAMES MARCIA JAMES MARCIA and and colleagues found that colleagues found that adolescents can be placed into adolescents can be placed into identity statusesidentity statuses Commitment Commitment PresentPresentCommitment Commitment AbsentAbsentExploratioExploration Presentn PresentAchievemenAchievementtMoratoriumMoratoriumExploratioExploration Absentn AbsentForeclosurForeclosureeDiffusionDiffusionIMPLICATIONS OF IDENTITY IMPLICATIONS OF IDENTITY STATUSESSTATUSESACHIEVEMENTACHIEVEMENT: Psychologically healthiest, : Psychologically healthiest, most mature, best interpersonal relationshipsmost mature, best interpersonal relationshipsMORATORIUMMORATORIUM: Least rigid, highest in conflict : Least rigid, highest in conflict with authority, most anxiouswith authority, most anxiousFORECLOSUREFORECLOSURE: Most prejudiced, lowest level of : Most prejudiced, lowest level of autonomy, highest need for social approval, autonomy, highest need for social approval, best relationships with parentsbest relationships with parentsDIFFUSIONDIFFUSION: Highest levels of psychological : Highest levels of psychological and interpersonal problemsand interpersonal problemsIDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OVER IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LIFESPAN THE LIFESPAN Research shows that Research shows that the process of ID is the process of ID is lifelong, although lifelong, although period of adolescence period of adolescence and young adulthood and young adulthood particularly active in particularly active in changechangeID shifts typically ID shifts typically occur after major life occur after major life changes or changes or transitions, or when transitions, or when one feels very one feels very discontentdiscontentMAMA cyclesMAMA cyclesmoratoriumachievementmoratoriumachievementGENDER AND IDENTITYGENDER AND IDENTITYDifferent ID processes for males versus females?Different ID processes for males versus females?Cultural socialization of gender roles Cultural socialization of gender roles influences the balance of interdependence themes influences the balance of interdependence themes in male versus female identity developmentin male versus female identity developmentIdentity > intimacy > generativity?Identity > intimacy > generativity?Research shows