ABSTRACT
Research supports the idea that identity development begins in childhood, and undergoes considerable advancement in adolescence. Perceptions of continuity and uniqueness was found to advance considerably with age. Because of this change in self-definition, it would be expected that identity development would be tied more to actual behaviors in the junior high years, and shift to a stronger link to more internalized outcomes during the high school years. The alternative to a formed ego-identity is termed "role confusion", which occurs when adolescents are not able to commit to definite life choices. Much of the work on adolescent identity development has been conducted under the typology offered by Marcia. In perhaps the most popular attempt to operationalize Erikson's ideas, Marcia cites two facets of identity formation, crisis (or a decision-making period), and commitment (personal investment), and has developed a typology based on these dimensions.
