HOW WILL commitment and exploration affect in developing the identity status of an adolescent?
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Adolescence
ACT for Youth Resources: IdentityToolkit: Identity Development links to additional resources on identity. "Who Am I?" -- Identity Formation in Adolescence, a handout by Rachel Sumner of Cornell University, provides a brief overview of adolescent identity development.  Our Multiple IdentitiesMany dimensions of identity intersect to form our sense of self:
ACT for Youth Highlight Purpose in Adolescence In this article, the authors present evidence that having a sense of purpose can help adolescents successfully navigate challenges. Visit Toolkit: Identity Development for resources. Learn more about Adolescent Development. What is Identity?Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups. Our identities are not simply our own creation: identities grow in response to both internal and external factors. To some extent, each of us chooses an identity, but identities are also formed by environmental forces out of our control [4]. Identity is dynamic and complex, and changes over time. Self-Identity and Social Identity
A positive self-identity is correlated with positive self-esteem [5, 6]. All identities are not equally valued by society, so some adolescents may especially need reinforcement to help them construct a positive sense of self. Dimensions of IdentityMany dimensions of our identity intersect to form our sense of self and cannot be separated from one another. Visible dimensions of identity, such as race and gender, tend to be more important for individuals since they are significant to the individual in every social context and carry more serious consequences in society [4]. For example, race may be important in all social interactions, but political identity, which is not ordinarily visible, may be relevant for some individuals only during election time. Let's look at an example of how social context may influence one's internal sense of identity. Jasneet's parents were born in India but she is an American citizen and generally self-identifies as an American. She chooses to celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali with her parents and extended family but celebrates American holidays with her peers from high school. In this case, Jasneet has an American national identity, but in her home environment finds that her ethnic identity may be important. In her school environment, she may celebrate American holidays and traditions. This illustrates how national and ethnic self identities may vary depending on the social context. Stages and Statuses of Identity DevelopmentIn the 1960s, psychologist Erik Erikson argued that adolescents face a major identity crisis, "Identity vs. Identity Diffusion," which he considered one of the stages of psycho-social development [3]. Successful resolution leads to a secure identity; failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. The key to resolving this crisis lies within the adolescent's interaction with others. James Marcia, also a developmental psychologist, described similar tasks for adolescents, but rather than characterizing them as "stages" he believed the process was non-linear [7]. Marcia proposed that "statuses" of identity development occur in response to crises in domains such as school, relationships, and values, rather than progressing in a linear fashion. According to Marcia:
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What is identity exploration and commitment?Exploration (initially called crisis) is defined as an “adolescent's period of engagement in choosing among meaningful alternatives,” and commitment refers to “the degree of personal investment the individual exhibits” (Marcia, 1966, p.
What factors influence the development of identity during adolescence?Young people's identities are shaped by lots of factors — family, cultural and societal expectations, experiences with institutions like school and the media, and friends. Young people also take active steps and make choices that shape their identity. They select the environments and people they want to be around.
Why is it important to commit to an identity?A clear sense of "who you are" makes it easier to connect with other similar people and groups. People with a strong identity often stand out more and are more memorable.
Why would it be important for an adolescent to reach identity achievement?Adolescents at the identity achievement stage have actively explored and examined different values and beliefs and have finally chosen those that are most important to them. They are able to sort out who they want to be and what their life's purpose is. They realize what their priorities are.
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