Identity Status Paradigm

Erikson’s writings on identity crises have been responsible for an extensive
literature consisting of conceptual as well as empirical articles. Perhaps the
most widely used application is Marcia’s identity status paradigm, in which
he conceptualized and operationalized Erikson’s theory of identity development
in terms of several statuses which result from exploration and commitment.
By 1988, more than one hundred empirical studies had been generated
from this paradigm, according to a review by Cote and Levine. The
identity status paradigm provides a methodological procedure for determining
identity statuses based on resolution of an identity crisis and the
presence of commitments to an occupation and an ideology.

According to the Marcia paradigm, an ego identity can be one of several
statuses consisting of achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, or diffusion.
An achievement status indicates resolution of the identity crisis and firm
commitments to an occupation and an ideology. In a foreclosure status, one
has formed commitments but has not experienced a crisis. The moratorium
status denotes that an identity crisis is being experienced, and no commitments have been made. The diffusion status implies the absence of a crisis
and no commitments. Much of the research has focused on identifying the
personality characteristics associated with each of these statuses. Other studies
have examined the interactional patterns as well as information-processing
and problem-solving strategies. Achievement and moratorium statuses
seek out, process, and evaluate information in their decision making. Foreclosures
have more rigid belief systems and conformto normative standards
held by significant others, while those in the diffusion status delay decision
making. Significant differences have been found among the statuses in
terms of their capacity for intimacy, with diffusions scoring lowest, followed
by foreclosures. Achievement and moratorium statuses have a greater capacity
for intimacy.