ABSTRACT
Erik Erikson conceptualized identity as a psychosocial construct, understood only through the interaction of biology, ego organization, and social context. The balance achieved during the “identity versus role confusion” conflict of adolescence is affected by all previous stage resolutions and will affect all developmental stages encountered thereafter. Marcia has empirically elaborated Erikson’s “identity versus role confusion” conflict, describing four identity resolutions based on attitudes of exploration and commitment toward social roles (achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, diffusion statuses), and research stemming from this approach is reviewed. Subsequent research has elaborated exploration and commitment processes and is reviewed in relation to personality features and mental health outcomes. The identity statuses and various types of exploration and commitment processes have implications for effective educational, counseling, and psychotherapeutic interventions, which are discussed.
