Marcian Theory

Adolescent Identity development

by James
Marcia
jAMES MARCIA
● BORN IN 1864
● CLINICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGIST.
● PROFESSOR AT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY,
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
● EXPANDED ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
BY ERIKSON.
ADOLESCENT IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
● ACCORDING TO JAMES MARCIA, TEEN ACHIEVES NEITHER IDENTITY
OR ROLE CONFUSION, BUT VARIOUS DEGREES OF EXPLORING AND
COMMITTING TO AN IDENTITY.
● TWO ELEMENTS NECESSARY TO FORM IDENTITY : CRISIS AND
COMMITMENT.
● DIVIDED IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT INTO FOUR STAGES.
Identity foreclosure
● LIMITED CHOICES.
● HIGH COMMITMENT BUT LESS EXPLORATION/CRISIS
● ALREADY FORECLOSED ON OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
IDENTITY DIFFUSION
● APATHETIC STAGE THAT LACKS BOTH EXPLORATION AND
COMMITMENT.
● CAN OVERLAP WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF
SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION.
● LACK OF IDENTITY STRUCTURE.
IDENTITY MORATORIUM
● THE ACTIVE EXPLORATION OF ALTERNATIVES.
● VERY OPEN MINDED AND
THOUGHTFUL.
● LESS COMMITMENT.
IDENTITY ACHIEVEMENT
● RESOLUTION TO MANY CRISIS.
● HIGH EXPLORATION AND HIGH COMMITMENT.