Identifying Stages of Identity Formation
Identifying Stages of Identity Formation: Please, read each of the following scenarios and decide which stage of identity formation each person is in. This is based on the work of James Marcia. So you must decide if the individual in each case is in the Role Confusion, Moratorium, Identity Foreclosure, or Identity Achieved Stage. After labeling the identity stage, please be sure to fully explain your answer.
QUESTION 1
Brian is 17 and has decided he wants to drop out of life. He has no plans to go to college and, frankly, does not care if he ever moves out of his parents’ house. What stage of identity formation is Brian in? Explain your answer.
QUESTION 2
Susannah moved away from home to go to college in Los Angeles. She realized that this was too big a move for her, and she had difficulty fitting in. Her studies suffered, and after a while, she moved back home and went to a small college in her area. What stage of identity formation is Susannah in? Explain your answer.
QUESTION 3
Calvin was raised in a very strict Jewish home. He has decided to continue to practice all of the religious and cultural beliefs of his parents and not try to decide for himself which values are best. Which stage of identity formation is Calvin in? Explain your answer.
QUESTION 4
Brittany is almost 18, yet she has no plans for college. She likes to dress up in gothic clothes and hang out at the local bars and clubs. She may take a part-time job so that she can make enough money to pay for her entrance into clubs and for drinks. Which stage of identity formation is Brittany in? Explain your answer.
QUESTION 5
Jim is confident he wants to be a firefighter. He has had this goal since he was a small child, and now that he is ready to graduate from high school, he has applied to a local college that offers a degree in fire science. He is open-minded about many different belief systems, and although he loves his parents, he has not always adopted all of their values. Which stage of identity formation is Jim in? Explain your answer.