James Marcia's Four Identity Statuses Of Psychological Identity Development

Refining Erik Erikson’s work, James Marcia came up with four identity statuses of psychological identity development that differ depending on whether the person perceives the issue of identity and whether it came to its decision. Also, he believed in two characteristics for identity- crisis and commitment that can be either present or absent (Feldman, 2017). A crisis is a time when adolescents consciously choosing between various alternatives in regard to identity. A commitment is defined as a time when adolescents have made a psychological investment in a course of action or ideology (Feldman, 2017). The one statement that Marcia made about crisis and commitment is that both these terms go together by contributing to the achievement of adolescent identity.

The first stage of identity development is identity achievement. In this case, both crisis and commitment are present. A person that is at this stage has passed through the identity crisis, a period of active questioning and self-determination (Feldman, 2017). The identity took ideological positions, which has developed and chosen an occupation. He/she begins to think of yourself as a future doctor, not as a student of chemistry before
studying medicine. This person reinterpreted religious and political beliefs of own family and threw what seemed to be inappropriate to her/his identity (Feldman, 2017).

The second stage is identity foreclosure.
In this category, crisis is absent and commitment is present (Feldman, 2017). According to Marcia, the following identity also took certain professional and ideological positions, but he/she has no indication that he/she ever went through an identity crisis (Feldman, 2017). This person accepts without question the religion of own family. When asking about political views, this individual often says that he/she actually never really thought about it. Some of these identities are ideological and are ready to cooperate, some just seem adamant dogmatists and conformists. It appears that these views will just disappear if something happens some event so important that it will put into question their senseless rules and values (Feldman,
2017).

The next stage is called moratorium category. It is opposite to the foreclosure stage because crisis is present and commitment is absent (Feldman, 2017). These are young people who are in the midst of an identity crisis. They are actively looking for answers, but so far only find conflicts between their parents in respect of themselves and their unmet interests. They can some time to defend a number of political and religious beliefs and then after some hesitation to abandon them. In a better case, they are sensitive, ethical, with an open mind; in a worst one, they show suppressed anxiety, self-righteous and indecisive (Feldman, 2017).

The last stage is the identity diffusion. During this status, crisis and commitment are absent (Feldman, 2017).This Marcia's term for Erickson's category of vague identity. Some people in this category back in the past was a crisis of identity, some were not. But neither those nor others have holistic sensations (Feldman, 2017). They say that it would be "interesting" to study at the faculty of law or to do business, but they did not take any steps in any direction. They say that they are not interested in religion or politics. Some of them are cynical, some superficial and scattered. Frankly, they have no idea what to do in their lives.

A lot of psychologists talk about switching one stage to another that happens throughout life. Changing from moratorium to identity achievement, then back to moratorium stage and then again back to identity achievement is widely known as MAMA cycle (moratorium- achievement - moratorium - achievement) (Feldman, 2017). For instance, after graduating school, a teenager could not decide what major chose. Then, after choosing the right major, he/she realized that is not interested in this kind of degree and do not what to do. After all, this kid will make his major choice.