Political Identity in Adolescents A study based on the theories of Erik Erikson and James Marcia

Political Identity in Adolescents

A study based on the theories of Erik Erikson and James Marcia

Objectives

Review Erik Erikson’s eight stages of Identity Formation

Discuss James Marcia’s 4 Identity Statuses

Present my research project

Erik H. Erikson

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1902 - Erik Salomonsen, 1909 - Erik Homburger, adult - Erik H. Erikson

Mother - Karla Abrahamsen / Father - ?

Teacher

Ana Freud - underwent psychoanalysis

Trained in psychoanalysis at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute

Concentrated in the psychology of identity

Child psychologist

College professor at Ucal, Yale, Harvard

Chilhood and Society

Erikson’s Theory of Development

Life unfolds in a series of 8 conflictsEach stage isolates the most general issue faced by individuals in the social worldDeals more with emotional development than cognitive developmentDevelopment of one’s identity depends on how one resolves each conflictAfter successfully resolving a crisis, a ‘virtue’ is developed Social pressures and biological maturation drive us from stage to stage

Erikson’s 8 stagesTrust vs. Mistrust (Infancy) ………………….…………... HOPEAutonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddlers) …………………WILLInitiative vs. Guilt (Preschool)……………………….…PURPOSEIndustry vs. Inferiority (Kinder to adolescence)………..COMPETENCEIdentity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)…….…………FIDELITYIntimacy vs. Isolation (Young adulthood)……………………LOVEGenerativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Age)…………………….CAREIntegrity vs. Despair (Old Age )…………………………WISDOM

Will everyone develop the virtue, or core ego strength, that Erikson

describes at the end of each stage?

• As we resolve each conflict, we need to have more positive than negative results. If we do, we will acquire the virtue that results from a favorable balance of positive at each stage.This allows us to move forward in the healthiest way.

• Successful resolution at earlier stages increases the chances for successful resolution of later ones

James E. MarciaCanadian developmental psychologist

Professor at Simon Fraser University

Expanded on Erikson’s Theory of Development

Focused on Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence) and Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)

Identity depends on the extent to which one has explored and committed to an identity in a variety of life domains such as religion, intimate relationships, gender roles, politics and occupation.

What did Marcia do?Began research in 1964

Initially interviewed 20 male college students and focused on occupation and ideology

What did Marcia find?Identity in adolescence cannot be achieved

unless there is both a crisis* and a commitment.

Formulated 4 Identity Statuses 2 kinds of committed and 2 kinds of

uncommitted

Marcia’s 4 Identity Statuses

Identity Diffusion

Foreclosure

Moratorium

Identity Achievement




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Identity Diffusion

Unsure and uncaring about their current beliefs and their futureLack a coherent set of beliefsFamilies are somewhat distantLiving for the moment

“I like to go with the flow”QuickTime™ and a

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ForeclosuresHas never seriously consider other ideas Has conferred identitiesTheir future is the fulfillment of expectationsSupports authoritarian viewsCome from close, loving, child-centered familiesEncouraged to conform to family valuesGreat behavior and happy family life

“My views have not really changed since childhood.”







MoratoriumAlways weighing the advantages and disadvantagesIn transition. Moving from either no identity or a conferred identity to a constructed identityExperimentingLike trapeze performers - holding on to the bar of the past while swinging toward the future.

“I’m still looking at both sides and trying to decide.”





Identity Achieved

Have a set of definite values and beliefsIndependent and smartConfident even in unfamiliar situationsFamilies support differentiationSuccessfully resolved their conflicts

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.“I know who I am and what I want from life.”



Marcia’s Conclusions

Few people are “just” one Identity or the other……many are a mix with one dominating.No status is a “once and for all” identity……though some changes are less likely than othersAchieving Moratorium or Identity Achieved depends on whether or not you have experienced a “crisis”People who have made a strong commitment to an identity tend to be happier and healthier than those who have not.

My Research ProjectExplore and determine the Identity Status, according to Marcia, of adolescents in the realm of politicsFind out who or what influences adolescents in their political identity

Interviewed 10 adolescents five boys and five girls aged 13-14 Students at Christ the King Catholic School and Holy Family NameUsed Marcia’s Identity Status Interview Form for political identity and some of my own

What did I do?

My Hypothesis

Students who have achieved some political identity will have experienced a crisis

Those students who have not experienced a crisis will be Foreclosure or Identity Diffused

Kinds of QuestionsDo you have any political preference?Do your parents have a political preference?Are there any political or social issues that you feel pretty strongly about?Have you ever taken any political actions, like joining groups, participating in election campaigns, writing letters to government…..?How do you feel while you are engaged in activities related to your political beliefs?How often does your family talk about politics?

Scoring Criteria

Identity Diffusion Foreclosure Moratorium Identity Achievement

Is not currently going through a crisis and has not made a

commitment

Has made a commitment without having gone through a crisis

Is currently in a crisis but has not made a commitment

Has gone through a crisis and has made a commitment to a certain

value or role

Do you have a political preference?

Has no political preferenceHas a political preference and it's

same as parentsHas no poltical preference / likes

things about both parties.Has a preference and it's different

from parents

Do you know the meaning of certain political terms?

Does not know what any of the terms mean.

Has heard the terms but unsure what they mean.

Knows the terms and can describe some of them.

Knows and can describe most of the terms

Are there any political or social issues that you feel

strongly about?

Not concerned about specific issues regarding our country

Concerned about specific issues regarding our country (they can

name but not explain them)

Concerned about specific issues regarding our country (they can name but only somewhat explain

them)

Definitely concerned about specific issues regarding our country

(they can name and explain them)

Results

Name Identity DiffusionForeclosure Moratorium Identity Achievement

GabbyGrace CGrace GSarah FJulia F

XanDonJimmyRileyJames

Other Results4 students had experienced a “crisis” - 3 were Identity Achieved and 1 was Moratorium2 crises were directly related to their peersAll Diffusers reported that their families rarely if ever talked about politicsThe likelihood of an adolescent having a crisis in the realm of politics increases if: 1) their family discusses politics at least once a week and 2) their viewpoints are accepted even if different and 3) their peers are interested in politics.The 3 most important social issues for adolescents are the war in Iraq, the environment/recycling, and abortion

Conclusions

Adolescents will only achieve identity if they have experienced a crisis

Adolescents who had not experienced a crisis were all Diffused or Foreclosure

Limitations of my research

Small number of intervieweesLimited amount of timeHomogenous samplingUnfair scoring rubricInexperienced interviewer* Possible skewed results* if this research study had not been in an election year

What were the crises?

- Julia

“When I was in the 5th grade and the election was going on when the students were talking about the election, the other students didn’t really understand their own opinion. They were mixing it up. One student said that George Bush was for gay marriage and John Kerry wasn’t. That annoyed me and I wanted to make sure I had it right. I saw Fahrenheit 911 and that opened me up to other opinions besides just the Dallas opinion. After that, I started talking to more people about their opinions and that opened me up to a new world.”

“I had a classmate who was talking all this trash about candidates and how he knew everything and it made me mad that I didn’t know anything. He kept leaving newspaper articles on my desk about George Bush and Rudy Giuliani. So I looked into it and found out what opinions people had and why it was important and what side I like better. I watched all the debates on TV and I decided that I like Barack Obama.”

- Grace

“When the terrorist attack on 911 came. I was puzzled to see what was going on and I was scared that someone could do that in the US. That’s when I thought our President should have more security and I started watching the news - in 3rd grade. Then my science teacher chose me to go to Washington DC for a National Junior Leaders conference to explore the government and talk to people.” - Don

RecapErik Erikson - Life unfolds in a series of 8 stages of conflicts. Our Identity depends on the outcome of those conflicts and whether we have more positive than negative experiences.

Marcia - Identity cannot be achieved unless there is a crisis and a commitment in a variety of domains. There are 4 Identity Statuses:

Identity Diffused Foreclosure

Moratorium Identity Achieved QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a










Documents

Political Identity in Adolescents A study based on the theories of Erik Erikson and James Marcia