Discussion Board: Option 1

Erikson’s fifth stage of development, identity vs. role confusion, occurs between ages
twelve and eighteen. Also dubbed adolescence, this stage is characterized by a search for
personal identity and sense via intense exploration of individual goals, beliefs, and values.
According to Erikson, an adolescent at this age might harbor thoughts of discomfort with self
and body for some time until they adjust and acclimatize to the new changes. Unlike Erikson,
Marcia categorizes identity statuses into four major classes: foreclosure, identify diffusion,
moratorium, and identity achievement.
Foreclosure is characterized by high commitment and low exploration. Adolescents make
commitments without considering or exploring available options. On the other hand, identity
diffusion is characterized by low commitment and low exploration. At this level, adolescents are
incapable of developing necessary identities and thus often tend to avoid making or exploring
commitments by staying in an amorphous state. However, the moratorium is marked by low
commitment and high exploration. At this phase, an individual is stuck in the middle, or a crisis,
meaning commitments are vaguely defined or completely absent, although they try to explore
alternatives. Finally, identity achievement is typified by the high commitment and high
exploration. Individuals explore alternatives and show commitment (Braisby & Gellatly, 2012).
At the moment, I am in the identity achievement stage because I have undergone identity
explorations, experienced a crisis, and made commitments. I have matured as an individual and
fully understand why I am in school, my future goals, and what it will take me to get there. This
has taken several years of failing to get a good GPA and long hours of trying different learning
approaches, not sticking to what people think. While I have developed as a person, the same
cannot be said for my 14-year-old brother, who is now at the foreclosure stage. He is at this stage

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because of always trying to follow parental ideas without exploring alternatives. My brother
believes that pursuing medicine, as often championed by our father, is the best and most
rewarding career path. He never considers other alternatives.

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References

Braisby, N., & Gellatly, A. (2012). Cognitive psychology (2 nd ed.). OUP Oxford.