Lesson 34: Introduction to Marcia’s Theory of Identity Status
(actually, a revisit!)

Attention

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Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Apply an understanding of Marcia's theory to the concept of Mid Life

Teaching

This is a review from an earlier lesson:

James Marcia constructed a theory of Identity Status to identify the status of any particular aspect of your identity. Each part of your identity makes up the "picture" of YOU (as do pieces of a jigsaw puzzle), and each piece can have it's own "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 of your identity has a status based on if you are in "crisis" and/or "commitment" about the piece!

  • Diffusion
    • No crisis and no commitment
    • Person has not made decisions about this part of his identity and is not looking or examining options
  • Moratorium
    • Crisis but no commitment
    • Currently looking and examining options, but has not selected one yet
  • Foreclosure
    • Commitment but no crisis
    • This piece of identity is set but was never examined in terms of choices
  • Achieved
    • Crisis and commitment
    • This piece has been identified by a process of looking at the options and the selecting the one

Examples:

I will use my own identity to give you examples of 4 different parts of my identity that meet these criteria:

  • Diffusion
    • No crisis and no commitment
    • I know that I want to live some place else outside of Maine later in life, but I have not begun the process of really looking at options
  • Moratorium
    • Crisis but no commitment
    • I am currently looking to sell my house and move into an apartment, likely by this summer
  • Foreclosure
    • Commitment but no crisis
    • I am a male and I've never REALLY considered any other possibilities
  • Achieved
    • Crisis and commitment
    • I have tried all kinds of jobs in my life, and I have arrived at the conclusion that teaching is the one I like the best

Adolescents tend to have MORE aspects of their identity in the DIFFUSION and MORATORIUM states...and there is a lot more plasticity of identity.

So what has this to do with Midlife?

Well, at Midlife, we begin to realize that if we are going to change any of those things that have been in Diffusion or Forclosed...we better get on it! We will ADD crisis to our lives...thus, the term "Mid Life Crisis" can be accurate for many more people!

Assessment

The assessment for this Lesson is incorporated into the Integrative Knowledge Special Assignment "Identity Status"