Erikson’s Theory: Identity vs. Role Confusion

1211 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Identity crisis in today's society essay

In this paper I will be focusing on Erikson’s Theory mainly about identity versus role confusion. Finding one’s identity is not always an easy task. Everyone at some point in his or her life has had, as Erikson puts it, an identity crisis. Everyone experiences different struggles that can have either a positive or negative impact on their identity. On my path to identity, I have reached identity achievement, which means I have explored and made commitments. I will also be focusing on two articles highlighting a fifth possible outcome regarding identity and looking at identity statuses as developmental trajectories. Erikson’s Theory: Identity vs. Role Confusion I have been able to explore many options because my parents have always encouraged and believed in me even when I doubted myself. In high school I was very active in extracurricular activities. I tried different sports and when I realized that playing them was not a strength of mine I tried managing. While I enjoyed managing softball, I wanted to do something more during the other seasons. This is when I decided to join the cheerleading squad, and that turned out to be a strength of mine. I played in the band, sang in the choir, and wrote for the school newspaper. I was not good at all these activities but that is okay because I realized that music was not a skill of mine but I was good at writing. Erikson describes this as a change in self-concept; it is the realization that one has negative and positive qualities that are situation specific but does not affect ones self-esteem. In high school I was also involved with many organizations and I feel like this process is going on again now that I am in college. I have joined a few different organizations and not all of them ha... ... middle of paper ... ...eness, showing weak commitments, relatively high levels of reconsideration, and low levels of psychosocial adjustment. In tern these people are viewed negatively. Searching moratoriums seem to represent an optimistic view; they experience indecisiveness because they actively considering alternatives for their present strong commitments. Therefore, they seem to be on the way to making final choices from a set of alternative, well-defined commitments (Meeus, Schoot, Keijsers & Branje, 2012). References Meeus, W., Schoot, R., Keijsers, L., & Branje, S. (2012). Identity statuses as developmental trajectories: A five-wave longitudinal study in early-to-middle and middle-to-late adolescents. J Youth Adolescence, 41, 1008-1021. doi: 10.1007/s10964-011-9730-y Valde, G. (1996). Identity closure: A fifth identity status. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 157(3), 245-254.

Show More
Related

  • Movie Review: The Case Presentation Of 'Precious'

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    During this stage, Erikson believes that the individual’s successful identity formation relies on social, cognitive and physical maturation (Pittman, Keiley, Kerpelman, & Vaughn, 2011). The individual tries out different roles for who they see in themselves and who they portray to others, eventually committing to their own personal role and occupational choice. Pittman et al. (2011) describe the identity formation as “consisting of decisions, investments, and commitments tied to current and future roles, goals, and relationships.” Additional considerations for identity formation include the context of the culture which is available to the adolescent during this time. After successful resolution of this stage during adolescence, individuals will typically progress into Erikson’s Intimacy versus Isolation stage during young

    Read More

  • Breaking Away Reflection

    1802 Words  | 4 Pages

    On a more refined level of Erikson’s theories, James Marcia’s four levels of ego identity are observed. The four stages are; Identity confusion, when there is not crisis or active commitments; foreclosure, still no crisis but starting to form beliefs, goals and values; moratorium, active crisis and actively trying to seek a way to resolve crisis, and finally, identity achievement; one has gone through and resolved crisis, and now has firm beliefs and

    Read More

  • Erikson's Stage Of Identity Vs Role Confusion

    113 Words  | 1 Pages

    The character Cinderella in Cinderella could be illustrated and analyze in Erikson’s stage of identity versus role confusion. Identity versus role confusion was when a young people earlier conflict was resolved negatively, or if society limits their choices to one that does not match their abilities and desires, they may appear shallow, directionless, and unprepared for the challenges of adulthood. This stage begins with Cinderella’s father dying and leaving her to live with her stepmother which shows her true colors. During this period, Cinderella is kept with an evil stepmother and two stepsisters that don’t like her and will do anything to make her feel bad. This is where her terrible life begins.

    Read More

  • Identity in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and Isaac Babel’s My First Goose

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although the concept of identity is recurrent in our daily lives, it has interpreted in various ways.

    Read More

  • The Myth of the Latin Woman

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Identity is a group of characteristics, data or information that belongs exactly to one person or a group of people and that make it possible to establish differences between them. The consciousness that people have about themselves is part of their identity as well as what makes them unique. According to psychologists, identity is a consistent definition of one’s self as a unique individual, in terms of role, attitudes, beliefs and aspirations. Identity tries to define who people are, what they are, where they go or what they want to be or to do. Identity could depend on self-knowledge, self-esteem, or the ability of individuals to achieve their goals. Through self-analysis people can define who they are and who the people around them are. The most interesting point about identity is that some people know what they want and who they are, while it takes forever for others to figure out the factors mentioned before. Many of the individuals analyzed in this essay are confused about the different possible roles or positions they can adopt, and that’s exactly the reason they look for some professional help.

    Read More

  • Vertical Identity In Andrew Solomon's Far From The Tree

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Identity is very important in a person’s life. It can induce pride or shame, provide a community or provide a way to distinguish one’s self from others. But, where does this identity come from? It is easy to assume we are who we are because of who raised us, but this is not the entire case. Andrew Solomon, author of “Far from the Tree” introduced two different forms of identity, vertical and horizontal. He defines vertical identity as the attributes acquired and shared by the people we are raised by and horizontal identity as the attributes different from those who raised us, but are shared and acquired through a peer community. These two types of identities generally do not intersect and, depending on the circumstance, one can greatly impact

    Read More

  • What Is Identity Development Essay

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    Human development is a highly complex lifelong process. Identity is a self-definition or sense of who one is, where one is going, and how one fits into society. It relates to our basic values that dictates the choices we make in life. It is considered that identity formation is a means of finding oneself, by matching one’s talent with available social roles. Crisis is a vital part in one’s development. It occurs in every stage of finding one’s self and without resolution, may lead to tension and role confusion. Dedicated and influential theorists such as Erik Erikson and James Marcia have contributed significantly to the broadening and understanding

    Read More

  • What Does it Mean To Be Human?

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many philosophers and psychologist from Jean Piaget to William James have theorized what makes a person who they are, their identity. Jean Piaget believed that the identity is formed in the sensorimotor stage and the preoperational stage. This means that a child is forming his identity as late to the age of seven (Schellenberg, 29) However, identity is strongly impacted by society such as school, church, government,and other institutions. Through our interactions with different situations our personality develops (Schellenberg 34). "In most situations there is a more diversified opportunity for the development of social identities, reflecting what the individual wants to put forth to define the self as well as what others want to accept,"(Schellenberg 35). Therefore, humans, much like animals, adapt to different situations based on who they are with. Individuals are always changi...

    Read More

  • The Development Stages Of Eric Erikson's Antisocial Development

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this crisis, the boy would have to balance between developing a unique and individual identity while still being in a position to fit in, accepted or have a sense of belonging to a certain group. However, it is important for the individual to determine who they want to be in their life and the manner in which others would perceive them. According to Erikson, if an individual manages to navigate through this stage successfully they would emerge with the best understanding of their identity from a personal perspective in which they will also share with others. Therefore, the individual would be referred to have a life that is well adjusted or healthy. At the same time, the individual would be in a better position to associate freely with others, as they would not lose their own

    Read More

  • Identity And Adolescence Essay

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    DeCuir-Gunby (2009) states that identity is “a formation process begins at birth, peaks during adolescence, and continues to develop throughout adulthood, thus allowing an individual to fully negotiate multiple identities.” During adolescence, the peak of identity development, it is the most judgemental and children

    Read More

  • Erikson's Theory Essay

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Erikson’s theory has a total of eight different stages. I believe Erikson had a great idea and was correct in his theory and thoughts. His stages and repercussions of each stage can be evident in my life as well as others in my life. Erikson’s first stage is about trust and mistrust in the first year of life. In my first year of life my family was very present. There does not go a week where my family does not recount about that first year and different silly or happy stories, I do not know of first hand, but can tell you without hesitation. Being that I was the first child of my parents, so as a result my parents dedicated every day to me and to support us. On my mother 's side I was the first grandchild to be born. As a result there was always

    Read More

  • James Marcia's Identity Status Theory

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    The purpose of this paper is to identify James Marcia’s identity status theory and how it pertains to the author 's life during adolescence and early adulthood. The author will reflect as well as address the four statuses of development. Noting that Marcia’s theory has proven to be an effective and dependable tool in helping to determine the status of the identity development in adolescents.

    Read More

  • Theories And Differences Of Erik Erikson And Jean Piaget

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    Erik Erikson developed eight stages of psychosocial development (Gordon & Browne, 2014). Each stage was characterized by an emotional challenge and the stages built upon previous experiences (Gordon & Browne, 2014). His stages of development gave us the term identity crisis which describes

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Erikson's Theory Of Psychosocial Development

    1765 Words  | 4 Pages

    Adolescence refers to the transition period experienced by children that occur between childhood and adulthood (Shefer, 2011). Identity is first confronted in adolescence between the ages 12 – 19 years old, because of physical and hormonal changes in the body. It is also due to the introduction of formal operations in cognitive development and societal expectation that this contributes to an individual’s identity to be explored and established (McAdams, 2009). The forces within and outside (family, community) the individual that promote identity development usually create a sense of tension. The basic task is, in Erikson’s terms, “fidelity or truthfulness and consistency to one’s core self or faith in one’s ideology” (Fleming, 2004: 9), in a nutshell: "Who am I and where am I

    Read More

  • Reflection About Adolescence

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Erikson’s Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, I thought, “Who am I?” countless times like many other adolescents. I occupied much of my time trying to construct a firm identity of myself, which I now realized did more harm than good. Letting myself explore different interests would have helped me find my identity than me trying to fake some firm identity.

    Read More

More about Erikson’s Theory: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Open Document