Temporal Considerations

It is important to realize that identity has a temporal element as well as a lifelong
duration. That is, identity as a personality characteristic undergoes
transformations throughout the life cycle. While crisis resolution may be
achieved during adolescence/young adulthood, this self-structure is not
permanent. Crises can reemerge during the life span. The midlife crises of middle adulthood, written about frequently in the popular press, are often
viewed as a manifestation of the earlier identity crisis experienced during
adolescence/young adulthood.

The outlook for identity crises is difficult to forecast. The psychological
moratorium will continue to be an important process. Given the constant
change in American society, the moratorium options available for youth
may be more restricted, or more ambiguous and less stable. This scenario is
more probable for humanistic moratoria as society moves toward more institutional
structure in the form of schools taking on increased responsibility
for the socialization of children and youth. The provision of child care before
and after school is one example of the school’s increased role. The erosion
which has occurred in family structure presents another problem for
identity crisis resolution.