How does identity develop during adolescence?

Adolescence is the period that passes from the beginning of puberty (13/14 years) until age 18. Popularly, it is known as a difficult period full of problems, but in reality most individuals cross this stage of their life without complications. However, it is important to note that Identity during adolescence undergoes a series of changes.

The changes lead the adolescent towards an objective: achieving essential autonomy and independence so that they can immerse themselves in adult life, with its rights and obligations. However, How does this identity develop during adolescence? James Marcia, through his theory of adolescent identity, has sought to shed light on this process.

The milestones of adolescence

This vital stage has been the object of study by many authors. Before entering into Marcia’s theory, it is necessary to establish a series of pillars on which there is some general agreement. These pillars are the milestones of adolescence, that is, the objectives that are pursued during adolescence in order to configure one’s own identity. They are the following:

The struggle to abandon dependence on parental figures. Resolving the concern about bodily appearance in society, that is, adopting a concrete and defining aesthetic of the individual. Integration in the peer group: this need becomes very important for the individual when beginning of the stage of adolescence to lose it at the end of psychosocial development. Development of one’s own identity.

Identity theory during adolescence

To explain this process in which the most important features of identity are configured, James Marcia suggested four identity statuses. These four statuses would show the state of the individual regarding his identity and would arise from two circumstances: (a) having or not having gone through an identity crisis, or (b) having or not having adopted vocational, ideological or personal commitments.

What does an identity crisis mean? During adolescence, a person is presented with a multitude of options to build their own identity. When the adolescent becomes aware of these alternatives, that is when they begin to explore their world, their tastes, their intimate relationships, their gender, their friendships, etc. This search, among so many opportunities, is what can give rise to what we know as an identity crisis.

What does it mean to make commitments to your identity? After exploring the options that the world offers to the adolescent, he or she may decide to sift through some aspects (ideas, commitments, values, etc.) and accept others as yours. This acceptance implies a commitment to certain ideological, personal and vocational concepts, which will develop an identity during adolescence and a self-concept that will greatly influence their adult life.

Below I will explain the 4 statuses that appear after the crossing of these two dimensions: Diffuse Identity, Moratorium, Achievement Identity and Mortgaged Identity.

Fuzzy Identity

It is the first stage of identity development during adolescence. The adolescent is in this status when he has not made any commitment nor is he exploring the alternatives that are presented to him. At this stage the adolescent does not worry about his identity.

We are talking about a state that sooner or later will be broken, since the adolescent will be forced to develop a personal identity: either due to the emergence of an identity crisis or the social pressures to compromise that accompany every important decision process.

Moratorium

This is the stage that in normal development usually follows diffuse identity. The adolescent is in moratorium when he has suffered an identity crisis, but has not yet developed commitments in any aspect.

Here the individual searches, explores, tries different alternatives, of course, without reaching a sure decision on one of them. It is a dangerous stage because, for example, if the adolescent has a battered self-esteem, it can lead to the consumption of addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis…).

achievement identity

Status in which the adolescent has overcome the moratorium stage and has decided on certain ideological, vocational and personal commitments. After the identity crisis and exploring their options, the individual has chosen the path they want to follow to continue developing as a person.

Which leads him to the construction of his identity and to have an idea of ​​what he is like. After this, the person will feel self-confident and will show a positive adjustment both behaviorally and personally.

Mortgaged Identity

But what happens if the teenager never suffers an identity crisis? On some occasions he may not explore her options and never undergo a moratorium period. So, Their way of building their identity will be through the advice or guidelines of an adult.

People who are in this state show better adjustment than those who are in moratorium or diffuse. However, it is no less true that it is a rather unstable state and much more insecure than the achievement identity.

Last conclusions

The first thing to keep in mind when understanding this theory of identity development during adolescence is: Personal identity is not something unitary and it is not an irrevocable process. In this sense it is a dynamic in which there will be decisions, but above all tests.

By saying that it is not unitary, we mean that this process can occur at different rates in different aspects of our identity. For example, I may have strict commitments that determine my professional identity, but when it comes to my political identity, I may find myself in a period of moratorium.

Furthermore, it is important to understand that it is not irrevocable, It is a dynamic back and forth process.. This means that after achieving an identity of achievement or a mortgaged identity, one may suffer a new identity crisis, which leads to another identity different from the previous one. For example, someone who started a career in medicine can reevaluate their situation and change to law.

After seeing the studies and theory of James Marcia, the final conclusion highlights the importance of the adolescent exploring the world around him and highlights the importance of the way you approach this task.

It is necessary expand the limits to allow you to explore what is right or wrong, so that you do it out of curiosity and intelligence and not as an act of rebellion. Let’s think that it is the only way he has to discover his personal identity. If adults force the adolescent to make arbitrary commitments, he will develop a Mortgaged Identity: an unstable identity that may prevent him from ever achieving his true Identity achievement.

You might be interested…