identity formation

Identity formation is a concept in developmental psychology. According to Erikson (1968).

 identity formation is the primary task of adolescence.

Two key processes are:

   1. exploration- the active questioning of options

   2. commitment- making life choices

According to Marcia (1966), four statuses are possible:

   1. achievement- a commitment after exploration

   2. foreclosure- commitment without exploration

   3.moratorium- exploration without commitment

   4. diffusion- no commitment and no exploration

Further work by Luyckx et al., (2008) resulted in the following processes:

Two commitment processes

   1. commitment making

   2. commitment with identification

Three exploration processes

   1. exploration in breadth - considering many options

   2. exploration in depth- rethinking the options

   3. ruminative exploration- continuously reviewing the options

Learn more about identity and the self at this link

Identity is at the core of the Self in the SCOPES model of human functioning.

References

Erikson E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York, NY: Norton.

Luyckx K., Schwartz S. J., Berzonsky M. D., Soenens B., Vansteenkiste M., Smits I., Goossens L. (2008). Capturing ruminative exploration: Extending the four-dimensional model of identity formation in late adolescence. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(1):58–82. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2007.04.004.

Marcia J. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3(5):551–558. doi: 10.1037/h0023281.

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