What Is an Identity Crisis?
An identity crisis is a developmental event that involves a person questioning their sense of self or place in the world. The concept originates in the work of developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, who believed that the formation of identity was one of the most important conflicts that people face.
According to Erikson, an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself. Erikson noted that developing a sense of identity is important during the teenage years, though the formation and growth of identity are not confined to adolescence only.1
Instead, identity is something that shifts and changes throughout life as people confront new challenges and tackle different experiences. Thus, an identity crisis can occur at any age.
What Is Identity?
Identity involves the experiences, relationships, beliefs, values, and memories that make up a person's subjective sense of self. This helps create a continuous self-image that remains fairly constant even as new aspects of the self are developed or strengthened over time.
Symptoms of an Identity Crisis
A person going through an identity crisis may find themselves preoccupied with certain questions:
What am I passionate about?
What are my spiritual beliefs?
What are my values?
What is my role in society or purpose in life?
Who am I? (This question may be in general or in regard to your relationships, age, or career.)
While everyone questions their sense of self from time to time, you may be having an identity crisis if you are going through a big change or stressful time and the above questions begin to interfere with your daily life. You might also notice that you feel more irritable, unmotivated, or empty.2
It is important to be aware that having negative feelings about yourself or your life can be an indicator of a vulnerability for depression.3 If you are also experiencing depression symptoms such as low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, and irritability, you should talk to your doctor or mental health professional.
How Identity Develops
Erikson believed that identity was formed by experimenting with different behaviors and roles, as well as through social interactions. Researcher James Marcia expanded upon Erikson's theory by suggesting that the balance between identity and confusion lies in making a commitment to an identity.4
Marcia developed an interview method to measure identity. It looks at three different areas of functioning: occupational role, beliefs and values, and sexuality. He also identified four different identity statuses that people move through as they develop their identity:
Foreclosure is when a person has made a commitment without attempting identity exploration.
Achievement occurs when an individual has gone through an exploration of different identities and made a commitment to one.
Diffusion occurs when there is neither an identity crisis nor commitment. Those with a status of identity diffusion tend to feel out of place in the world and don't pursue a sense of identity.
Moratorium is the status of a person who is actively involved in exploring different identities but has not made a commitment.
Marcia argued that identity crises help people move from one status to another; however, people don't necessarily experience each of the statuses above.
Causes of an Identity Crisis
In Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the emergence of an identity crisis occurs during the teenage years in which people struggle with feelings of identity versus role confusion.
In today's rapidly changing world, identity crises may be more common than in Erikson's day. Such crises often occur in response to a sudden change in a person's life. This may include personal life changes or broader societal events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.5
People tend to experience an identity crisis at various points throughout life, particularly at points of great change, including:
Beginning a new relationship
Ending a marriage or partnership
Experiencing a traumatic event
Having a child
Learning about a health condition
Losing a loved one
Losing or starting a job
Moving
Research also suggests that there are a number of factors that can influence whether a person experiences what is often referred to as a midlife crisis. Such factors include health issues, stress, and social support.6
Having a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder may also increase the likelihood of experiencing an identity crisis.
'I Don't Know Who I Am'—Why You Feel This Way and What to Do
What Is an Identity Crisis? - Verywell
In Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the emergence of an identity crisis occurs during the teenage years in which people struggle with feelings of identity versus role confusion.
In today's rapidly changing world, identity crises may be more common than in Erikson's day. Such crises often occur in response to a sudden change in a person's life. This may include personal life changes or broader societal events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.5
People tend to experience an identity crisis at various points throughout life, particularly at points of great change, including:
Beginning a new relationship
Ending a marriage or partnership
Experiencing a traumatic event
Having a child
Learning about a health condition
Losing a loved one
Losing or starting a job
Moving
Research also suggests that there are a number of factors that can influence whether a person experiences what is often referred to as a midlife crisis. Such factors include health issues, stress, and social support.6
Having a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder may also increase the likelihood of experiencing an identity crisis.
'I Don't Know Who I Am'—Why You Feel This Way and What to Do
What Is an Identity Crisis? - Verywell
READ MORE:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-an-identity-crisis-2795948#:~:text=An%20identity%20crisis%20is%20a,important%20conflicts%20that%20people%20face.
No comments:
Post a Comment