Your Own Developing Identity/ Identifying Your Own Identity

Erikson is most famous for his adolescent stage, the stage he called Identity and Identity Formation. Actually, Erikson believed that identity formation goes on all of our lives, although he felt concern with formulating one's identity is most predominant during adolescence. Using Erikson's theory as a springboard, psychologist James Marcia talks about four aspects of identity development (Selection 32 of your Classic Editions text). These include: Identity Achievement Identity Foreclosure Identity Moratorium Identity Diffusion Assignment:  Pick one area of identity formation in your own life.   Pick one of the following areas:   career/education, or religion, or political beliefs, or sexual orientation. In this essay, tell how you have moved amongst the four aspects of identity development that Marcia identified.  Include your entire life from adolescence to the present, even if your chosen aspect of identity formation has not changed since adolescence and/or even if you are in the life stage of adolescence.  If you have only moved through one, two or three of Marcia’s four aspects, write about those that you have gone through. Then explain why you didn't go through Marcia’s other aspects. Your essay must include information about identity achievement, foreclosure, moratorium and diffusion. Please submit as an .rtf, .doc, .docx, or .odt file. This essay should 1000-1250 words long. Writing and citations should be in APA format.  You may not write an essay shorter than 1000 words without being penalized in your grade.