What Is Identity Change In Adolescence?

Part of human nature is to go through vast changes that alter the way an individual looks, thinks, and behaves. Each of the developmental changes that a person goes through is categorized based on age and ranges from birth all the way into late adulthood. Out of all the stages that occur in human development, adolescence is the point filled with an interesting combination of controversy and complexity. Adolescence is a critical period in human development due to the multitude of changes and issues that take place throughout this point in life. This stage of development focuses on individuals who are between fifteen to nineteen years of age. At this time, various physical changes occur and become evidently seen. In addition, changes that cannot

Of the processes, general identity formation is one that stands our tremendously. Identity formation has to do with the development of a distinct personality in a person and this is usually influenced by other factors such as genetics and social environment. As Erik Erikson determined, identity formation is the ultimate focus that adolescents put their efforts towards and it has a powerful influence on their development into adulthood. There is much ambiguity in

However, other research psychologists such as James Marcia have also made notable contributions to this particular study in adolescent development. After Erikson’s work becomes established, Marcia extends his research by concluding the presence of Identity Statuses of psychological identity development. “In assessing ego-identity statuses of adolescents, Marcia also employed two criteria, exploration and commitment. Exploration refers to a period of active questioning and engagement in choosing among meaningful alternatives. Commitment refers to the presence or absence of decisions in a particular ideology, role, or occupation. Marcia provided a model for categorizing adolescents in one of four ego-identity statuses: achieved identity, moratorium, foreclosed identity, and identity diffusion” (Miville, 2000). Each of these statuses revolve around different levels of commitment and exploration taken on by the adolescent individual. To elaborate, those with an achieved identity have high commitment and high exploration and those with moratorium have low commitment and high exploration. Such individuals are at least taking the initiative to try and figure out who they are by exploring different ideas and lifestyles that surround them. In contrast, foreclosed identity and identity diffusion is seen in those who have yet to explore their