Introduction
Marcia James, an influential theorist, expanded Erikson’s idea of identity confusion and identity crisis. Through refining and extending Erikson identity concept, Marcia’s expansive works formed the Marcia’s identity statuses. Marcia’s identity concept descriptively categorizes four key stations along development continuum. The identity statuses include, identity diffusion, which represents adolescents with no sense of making choices or willing to make life commitment (Shaffer, 2008). Identify Foreclosure represents adolescents who conform to other people’s expectations regarding their lives (Shaffer, 2008). People in this identity status follow the opinions of their parents in making life decisions. The third status is identity Moratorium that represents adolescents with countless choices and ready to make decisions but have no commitment to the numerous choices they have. The last status is identity achievement representing adolescents who have passed through an identity crisis, and have a pledge to a chosen value or role (Shaffer, 2008). This brief overview presents a succinct explanation of numerous people showing the Marcia’s development continuum they went through in the course of their adolescence.
Lakeisha Grayson
Lakeisha Grayson placed herself in the identity foreclosure during her adolescence. Lakeisha felt obligated to follow her father’s career goals and religion. However, she never received any pressure from her family regarding her career or religion choices. At the age of 18, Lakeisha joined the military just like his father who was military personnel. Lakeisha did not focus on a college career because she knew that there were no funds set aside for her to further her studies. She was ready to become part of the same experiences that her father experienced in the military. She was successful in her chosen career field.
Larry King
Larry believes that he currently fits in the identity achievement status. He considers himself secure bi-cultural man, a Scots-Irish and a Native American who respects his genetic makeup. Larry extensively involves himself in both culture. He believes that he got his values at a young age as a dedicated Christian. His experience of identity crisis, from his Scots-Irish ancestors and his tribal ancestors influenced his identity status. Larry learnt to work hard, support others, and take care of the land and animals among other values in his young age. Larry claims that his career choices are manifold since as a young boy, only 8 years old; he received a calling to the ministry, but he ran from the calling for forty years. He followed his paternal grandfather’s footsteps and became a Master Machinist. He also followed his own desires and became an electrical engineer. Larry has also worked as a field service engineer for two international corporations. However, notwithstanding the good package he received from his chosen career, he remained discontented. Given his dissatisfying career options, Larry felt empty, and he resorted to his calling to serve God after having walked away from the church for seven years. He joined the ministry in 1998, and since then, he feels comfortable, satisfied, and happy. He believes that working in the ministry is the hardest vocation, but he enjoys offering lifechanging messages to thousands of people. Despite the low reward, he gets from his vocation; Larry feels happy, satisfied with his life and he enjoys working in the ministry.
Larry Steptoe
Larry chose the identity Foreclosure continuum during his adolescent. His father was his biggest fan, and he always considered his fathers opinions. Larry’s father was an outstanding basketball and athlete coach. Besides, his father owned a successful janitorial company. Larry wanted to be like his father although his father always told him that he wanted him to stand by himself and become a better man than his father. Larry had a successful basketball, military and coaching career just like his father. Larry strives to make his father proud, and trusts that his father believes that his son followed his footsteps despite being dead for thirteen year.
Kiah Payne
For a better part of her life, Kiah placed herself in between identity foreclosure and identity diffusion. Kiah followed her grandfather’s footsteps until his death. Her grandfather was like a father to her and he influenced her life. Kiah regularly went to church, participated in bible studies besides living her life according to the word of God. She performed well in school, and she wanted to become a doctor. Kiah struggled to handle the loss of her grandfather who died of cancer. The struggle made her change to a strange place between foreclosure and identity diffusion. She continued with her religious life although she felt that her mother forced her to do so. She began to think that she needed freedom and eventually stopped going to church and stopped all other values instilled in her by her grandfather and mother. She thought she knew what was right for her. She started acting delinquently because she felt as if she was in a difficult situation where nothing seemed easy for her.
Kiah difficult situation led her to counseling. She went for counseling for a few years, and she fixed the damages she caused in her family. This aspect allowed her to gain self-awareness besides letting her understand what she wants in life. Despite the fact that her bipolar condition makes her act on emotions, she trusts that she can now suit in the identity achievement status. She trusts that her disorder does not make her less normal than other people. The years of identity crisis made her understand what she wants in life. She has a part time job as she awaits her degree in English. She plans to join Peace Corps when she graduates and want to become a high school English teacher. She dedicates her life to God and trust that a person lives for herself and God.
Kristin Sisson
Kristin places herself in the identity moratorium. She believes that she is in transition from identity moratorium to identity achievement. She claims that she feels confused in different areas of her life and believes that she is not solid. She desires to see herself as a Christian, but she views things differently from the Christian perspective. She supports homosexuality and trust that her view regarding homosexuality is innate. She gets confused on what she reads in the bible and what she experiences in life. With regard to career, Kristin feels that she is still exploring what she wants to do and become in life. She allows emotions to control her decisions and actions. She is objective and holds certain values such as judging people wisely.
Conclusion
Each member of the group has his/her identity development continuum. Each member suits one or more of Marcia’s identity status. Life values, career options, ethnicity and parental influences help in demonstrating each member’s identity status. Commitments and choices determine individual, social and personal traits (Kroger, 2005). Apparently, individual, group member’s identity creation holds numerous elements. The formation began during adolescence, constantly developed, and formed as each person thrived through life. The absence and presence of commitment and crisis in life affects the identity status of each member. Members experienced and resolved crisis captiously besides assessing all their life choices and options to reach their identity status.
References
Kroger, J. (2005). Identity in Adolescence: The balance between self and other. London: Routledge.
Shaffer, D. (2008). Social and personality development. New York: CengageBrain.
