Adolescence is the period from the onset of puberty (13/14 years) to the age of 18, popularly known as a difficult and convulsive period, but in reality most people go through this stage of life without major complications. It is important to keep in mind what is happening in relation to the development of identity in adolescence.
The changes lead adolescents towards a goal: to achieve the autonomy and independence essential so that they can immerse themselves in adult life, with its rights and obligations. But how does this identity develop in adolescence? James Marcia, through his adolescent identity theory, sought to clarify this process.
- To explain this process in which the most important characteristics of identity are configured.
- James Marcia suggested four states of identity.
- These four statutes would show the state of the individual in relation to his identity and would result from two circumstances: (a) whether or not he experienced an identity crisis.
- Or (b) whether or not he has made professional.
- Ideological or personal commitments.
What does an identity crisis mean? In adolescence the person faces a multitude of options to build his own identity, when the teenager realizes these alternatives, when he begins to explore his world, his tastes, his intimate relationships, his sex, his friends, etc. You may feel confused This investigation, among so many opportunities, is what can lead to what we call an identity crisis.
What does it mean to commit to your identity? After exploring the options that the world offers, the adolescent can decide to create certain aspects (ideas, commitments, values, etc. ) and accept others as his own, this acceptance implies a commitment to certain ideological, personal and vocational concepts, which he will develop an identity in adolescence and an image of himself that will influence his adult life.
Next, we will explain the four statutes or psychosocial situations that arise after going through these two dimensions: dissemination of identity, moratorium, identity fulfilled and identity granted.
This is the first phase of identity development in adolescence, the adolescent is in this state when he has not yet committed or when he explores the alternatives that are presented to him, at this stage the adolescent does not worry about his identity.
We are talking about a state that will change sooner or later, because the adolescent will be forced to develop a personal identity: either by the appearance of an identity crisis, or by the social pressures of commitment that accompany any important commitment.
This is a phase that, in normal development, usually follows a diffuse identity, the adolescent is to blame when he has suffered an identity crisis, but has not yet developed any compromise of any kind.
At this stage, the individual searches, explores, tests different alternatives, without choosing any, this is a dangerous stage because, for example, if the adolescent has low self-esteem, it can lead to the use of drugs (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis?).
At this stage, the teenager has passed the moratorium stage and has spoken out about certain ideological, professional and personal commitments, after the identity crisis and the exploration of his options, the individual has chosen the path he wants to continue to develop. as a person.
This leads you to build your identity and realize what it really is, after that, the person will feel safe, which will show a positive adjustment at the behavioral and personal level.
But what if the teenager never suffers an identity crisis?Sometimes the teen does not explore his options and never goes through a period of moratorium. Therefore, your way of building your identity will be through the advice or guidance of an adult.
People in this state show a better suitability than those in default or fuzzy, however, it is no less true that this is a very unstable state and much more uncertain than the identity of realization.
The first thing to consider to understand this theory of identity development in adolescence is this: personal identity is not something unitary and is not an irrevocable process; in this sense, it is a dynamic in which there will be decisions, but above all evidence.
This is not unitary, because this process can occur at different rates and in different aspects of our identity, for example, I may have commitments that determine my professional identity, but in relation to my political identity, I am in a period of moratorium.
In addition, it is important to understand that it is not irrevocable, it is a dynamic round trip process, this means that after reaching an identity of achievement or a granted identity, a new identity crisis can occur that leads the teen to a different identity than the previous one. For example, someone who has started studying medicine can change their mind and study law.
After learning about James Marcia’s studies and theory, the final conclusion emphasizes the importance of the teenager exploring the world around him or her and emphasizes the importance of how he or she faces this task.
It is necessary to push the boundaries to allow you to explore what is right or wrong, so that you do it out of curiosity and not as an act of rebellion, is the only way to discover your personal identity. If adults force the teen to make arbitrary commitments, he or she will develop an identity endowed with an unstable identity that can prevent him from reaching his true identity of realization.