Problem
Choose someone who you know well who is between the ages of 18-25. Do not choose someone under the age of 18, as they cannot give consent to participate in this interview without their parent's permission. However, if you are under the age of 18 and wish to analyze yourself, you can. Similarly, if you are between the ages of 18-25 and wish to analyze yourself, you can. De-identify the person you are analyzing by removing any identifying information about them (such as their real name, where they live, how you know them, their relationship to you, etc.) You can change their name to whatever you want (for example, John Doe or Jane Doe).
A. Interview your person (or yourself) and determine their identity on all of these factors. For example, for their spiritual beliefs, determine whether they hold any and if so, what are they. Do not include any of this information in your submitted assignment, as it would identify who you are interviewing! This is for your record only. If you take notes as you are interviewing the person, you should shred these after you have submitted your assignment to protect their identity.
B. Once you have interviewed them, on your own time (i.e, without the person in front of you), determine if each of the bulleted items meet criteria for identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, identity moratorium, or identity achievement per James Marcia's statuses. Marcia's statuses are described on p. 284-285 of your textbook In your write up, you should name each bulleted item, which identity status you believe they are in, and your explanation of why you believe they are in that identity status. Use the "narrative approach" as described in your textbook. Again, protect their confidentiality-- don't state what their exact identity is, but which status it is in.
a. For example, if you were describing Clark Kent (aka Superman's) identity status on body image, you could state that the individual was in "identity achievement" because he had a clear sense of how he feels about the way his body appears, his overall impression of his body was positive, and his beliefs on his body are consistent over time. Notice how I left out how he is a superhero with superpowers and in an incredible state of physical fitness-- this is to protect his identity. If you wanted to describe is identity status on cultural identity, you could state that he is in "identity moratorium", in that he identifies more with mainstream cultural identity than his home country, but is open to learning more about his country of origin and is actively exploring it. Notice how I left out that he is an alien from another planet (Krypton) that exploded-- I leave these out to protect his identity. Be specific enough that you can justify what their status is and why, but vague enough that you are protecting their identity.
C. Describe Erikson's identity versus identity confusion stage. (This is described on p. 284 of your textbook. Based on your interview with your person (or yourself), do you think this person has successfully resolved this stage? Why or why not?
D. Give your opinion-- is it important to form an identity during adolescence? Why or why not?