Based on Erik Erikson’s work, James Marcia created four categories of identity development during adolescence. Each category reflects the degree to which adolescents have made firm commitments to occupational, religious, and political values. Below are descriptions of four adolescents, each of who fits one of Marcia’s categories. Read the description of the adolescent, then label the individual as identity foreclosure, identity diffusion, moratorium, or identity achievement. Provide an explanation for your selection.
Suzette comes from a family of teachers. Her parents’ dream is that she become a teacher. Suzette agrees that teaching is the only occupation that she can pursue since it would break her parents’ hearts if she did anything else.
Mali finds the political debate that his teachers, parents, and peers engage in to be boring. He couldn’t care less who is in office and who is not.
Catrina is a good student, a strong athlete, and an excellent musician. She has ideas about a future career, but hasn’t yet decided which of her many interests to pursue.
After winning a contest to be a guest announcer at a large radio station, Anthony decides that he will go to college to study broadcasting.
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