Adolescent Identity Formation

1
Adolescent Identity Formation
2
On the Conceptualization of Identity

• Ericksons Stages
• Childhood
• Trust
• Autonomy
• Initiative and ambition
• Industry and competence
• Adolescence
• 5. Identity formation
• Adulthood
• 6. Intimacy
• 7. Generativity
• 8. Integrity

3
What is Identity Erikson

• Conscious sense of individual uniqueness
• Striving for continuity of experience
• Solidarity from group ideals
• The Charge such definitions are vague,
  unsystematic, too colloquial.

4
Marcia (1966) Identity Commitments

• Identity is construed as committing to a
  particular vocation, sexuality, religion,
  political ideology, etc
• There is a progression of commitment types and
  trying on of commitments

5
The Identity Process

• Adolescence
• Identity-diffused no strong commitment and not
  seeking one
• Foreclosed strong commitments but adopted from
  ones parents or others blindly
• Identity Crisis Unstable statemoratorium One
  has no commitments but is seeking to make them.

6
Resolution from Moratorium

• Two paths
• Identity-achieved (positive, relatively stable
  state) you commit.
• Identity-diffused (negative, complex) you fail
  to commit.

7
Revisiting the Definition

• Possible components
• Agency
• Rationality
• Singularity
• Continuity

8
Process Model of Identity Formation Grotevant
(1987)

• Exploration and Commitment
• Scientific self-theorists
• Dogmatic self-theorists
• Ad hoc self-theorists
• Correlates well with typology of Marcia