An identity crisis is a search for answers about one’s being and identity, often experienced during adolescence but can occur at any time. It involves self-exploration and evaluation of choices, leading to the attainment of identity. Some cultures encourage and facilitate this process, while others may experience a crisis as they respond to major changes.
An identity crisis is a moment in life when an individual begins to seriously seek answers about the nature of their being and the search for an identity. The 20th century developmental psychologist Erik Erikson developed this term, which is used frequently. He mainly used it to apply to the transitional period in the teenage years, when children begin to define what they will be as adults and what their values are. It is thought today that an identity crisis can occur at any moment of life, especially in periods of great transition.
Most adolescents go through periods of defiance against parental figures and other authorities. While children can make extremely poor choices when choosing to defy their parents, they often participate in profound self-exploration that will help them determine what they will do and who they will be as they enter adulthood. For parents, watching a child enter the identity crisis stage is often scary and difficult, as deliberate disobedience to certain standards can be inherently risky. Children can, unfortunately, ruin their future if they stray too far from parental or societal entitlement; they may end up addicted to drugs or parent their own children long before they are ready.
However, most children have to take this scary step to find a unique identity. When I’m in the thick of it, this can be called the moratorium stage. In this part choices are evaluated and explored and there may be a high incidence of exploration or various ideas, interests, careers and sexualities, among other things. Once the crisis is over, people have what is called the attainment of identity. They have set foot on a path and determined who they are and what they want to be.
It’s not just about determining a potential career. Such a crisis may be about exploring sexual identity and deciding which ethics and values are most important. Some people end up on a path that determines their identity without exploration or introspection, and this can be called a state of foreclosure. Some social scientists believe that a foreclosure will precipitate an identity crisis at a later date, since little exploration of the choices has been done. Occasionally, people living in very restrictive environments have choices made for them and an identity is established without much choice or consideration of other options.
There are cultures that deeply encourage and facilitate an identity crisis. In Amish cultures, some communities encourage older teenagers to experience the outside world before determining if they will remain a permanent part of the Amish community and be baptized. Similarly, some Roman Catholic communities have now changed confirmation to a later date, or are encouraging people to take the time to consider whether they truly wish to be confirmed in the Church. Letting an identity emerge before making such important decisions seems psychologically correct.
As mentioned, this crisis is not limited to adolescence and emerging into adulthood. It can happen at any time, and many people label midlife crisis an identity crisis. Some people find their values, choices, or paths inappropriate after major life changes like a divorce. Furthermore, nations and communities can also experience these crises as they grow or respond to major changes. How a culture identifies with itself and what it wants and cherishes can be part of a national identity crisis that can take time to resolve and can be somewhat constantly evolving.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
