Identity Crisis

Identity Crisis
• 1 : personal psychosocial conflict especially in
adolescence that involves confusion about one's
social role and often a sense of loss of continuity to
one's personality
• 2 : a state of confusion in an institution or
organization regarding its nature or direction
The Concept of Identity
Crisis
• The concept originates in the work of developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, who believed
that the formation of identity was one of the most important parts of a person's life.
• While developing a sense of identity is an important part of the teenage years, Erikson did not
believe that the formation and growth of identity were just confined to adolescence.
• According to Erikson, an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of
different ways of looking at oneself.
 • Sometimes, individuals face obstacles that may
prevent the development of a strong identity. This
sort of unresolved crisis leaves individuals struggling
to "find themselves". They often seem to have no
Roots of idea who or what they are, where they belong or
where they want to go. They may withdraw from
Identity normal life, not taking action or acting as they
usually would at work, in their marriage or at school,
Crisis or be unable to make defining choices about the
future. They may even turn to negative activities,
such as crime or drugs since from their point of view
having a negative identity could be more acceptable
than none at all.
 • German psychologist Erik Erikson has postulated the
stage of psychosocial development in which identity
crisis may occur is called the identity cohesion vs.
role confusion. During this stage, adolescents are
faced with physical growth, sexual maturity, and
Identity integrating ideas of themselves and about what
others think of them.
Crisis • Adolescents therefore form their self-image and
endure the task of resolving the crisis of their basic
ego identity. Successful resolution of the crisis
depends on one's progress through previous
developmental stages, centering on issues such as
trust, autonomy, and initiative
 People tend to experience them at various points
throughout life, particularly at points of great change,
including:
• Beginning a new relationship
Causes of • Ending a marriage or partnership
• Experiencing a traumatic event
Identity • Learning about a health condition
• Losing a loved one
Crisis • Losing or starting a job
Identity crises are also common among people with
mental illness, including depression, codependence,
bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder
Symptoms

• How can you tell if you’re having an identity crisis? While

we all question who we are from time to time, you may be
having an identity crisis if you are going through a big
change or stressful time in life and the following questions
begin to interfere with your daily life.
• What am I passionate about?
• What are my spiritual beliefs?
• What are my values?
• What is my role in society or purpose in life?
• Who am I? This question may be in general, or
in regards to your relationships, age, and/or
career.
 Related Term

• Existential crisis, also known as existential

dread, are moments when individuals
question whether their lives have meaning,
purpose, or value, and are negatively
impacted by the contemplation