Identity Status

Learning Outcomes

This assignment is designed to address Integrative Learning outcomes. These specific outcomes are incorporated into the grading rubrics for the papers.

If you wish, you may click HERE to download the American Association of Colleges and Universities VALUE rubric on Integrative Learning

Teaching

Our IDENTITY is comprised of many pieces. Consider the analogy of the Jigsaw Puzzle, each piece makes up a small part of the while picture, just like each piece of your IDENTITY makes up a small (or large) part of your complete picture!

Sometimes pieces are shaped for us by factors such as our genetics, where we were born, when we were born, and our upbringing.

Other pieces we shape ourselves through our experiences, efforts, goals, and decisions.

Applying Marcia's theory to EACH piece of our IDENTITY, we can see that at any time, different pieces might be in different states of development. For each piece, we can apply Marcia's model for understanding where THAT piece is at...it's STATUS:

Marcia's model is based on two processes...Crisis and Commitment. In this model, "Crisis" means you are examining the options, "Commitment" means that you have selected an option. Each piece has it's own status, based on how these processes have been applied to it...each piece can be in one of 4 statuses (see the graphic above)

  • Diffusion
    • No Crisis and no Commitment
    • Your PIECE is in DIFFUSION if you have not made a decisions about this part of your IDENTITY and your are NOT looking or examining options
  • Moratorium
    • Crisis but no Commitment
    • Your PIECE is in MORATORIUM if you have not made a decision about this part of your IDENTITY but you ARE currently looking and examining options
  • Foreclosure
    • Commitment but no Crisis
    • Your PIECE is in FORECLOSURE if you have NEVER really examined other options but you HAVE made a decision about it (or a decision was made for you and you have never questioned it)
  • Achieved
    • Crisis and Commitment
    • Your PIECE is in ACHIEVED status if you HAVE (at least at one time) examined the options and you have made a decision about this part of your IDENTITY based on that examination.

Examples:

Jennifer Aniston has agreed to give us examples of 4 different parts of her identity that meet these criteria:

  • Diffusion
    • No Crisis and no Commitment
    • I know that I want to play a serious dramatic role and not be defined as simply a comic actress, but I have not really started looking for any opportunities and I'm enjoying my current success
  • Moratorium
    • Crisis but no Commitment
    • I am currently looking to sell my house and move to Maine so I can take these classes face to face instead of online all the time
  • Foreclosure
    • Commitment but no Crisis
    • I am a female and I've never REALLY considered any other possibilities
  • Achieved
    • Crisis and Commitment
    • I was married to Brad and we broke up and I'm OK with that...no matter what the tabloids say. Maybe I will find Mr. Right when I move to Maine

For this assignment you are going to construct a table similar to the graphic at the top of this page. You will do this in MS Word and submit the document to the appropriate assignment drop box in Blackboard.

Your table will be formatted something like this:

My Identity
No Crisis
Crisis
No Commitment

Diffusion Identity Pieces

In this space you will write a detailed example of your particular piece of identity that is in this status. Your description should CLEARLY show that the piece is in this status...this should demonstrate a good understanding of what makes up this particular part of Marcia's Theory

Moratorium Identity Pieces

In this space you will write a detailed example of your particular piece of identity that is in this status. Your description should CLEARLY show that the piece is in this status...this should demonstrate a good understanding of what makes up this particular part of Marcia's Theory

Commitment

Foreclosure Identity Pieces

In this space you will write a detailed example of your particular piece of identity that is in this status. Your description should CLEARLY show that the piece is in this status...this should demonstrate a good understanding of what makes up this particular part of Marcia's Theory

Achieved Identity Pieces

In this space you will write a detailed example of your particular piece of identity that is in this status. Your description should CLEARLY show that the piece is in this status...this should demonstrate a good understanding of what makes up this particular part of Marcia's Theory

Your formatting, spelling, grammar, and professional presentation of this document is counted in the grading.

Grading Rubric

The following criteria will be used to evaluate and grade your submission: