There are four types of Identity Statuses: Diffusion, Foreclosure, Moratorium and Achievement. Below you will find four scenarios of individuals in each identity status and an explanation as to why they are in that status.
Kenny is about to graduate from high school, barely. His grades are borderline, he has few friends, no real interests, and spends most of his time after school staying in his room listening to music. He seems to have no interest in making plans for the future or even finding a job to support himself after high school.
Diffusion- little effort or desire to pursue anything in his future. He occupies his time with meaningless tasks.
Sue seems to change her mind every few weeks about most everything. she cannot seem to settle on what she wants to do after high school. At times she says she wants to go to college, but at other times she says she wants to see the world. One minute she wants to be a doctors, the next she wants to be a writer. She is also continually changing her appearance. One month she was preppy, the next day she dyed her hair and bought a new wardrobe. her parents are not too concerned. They support her ideas about the future and knows she will eventually find her path.
Moratorium- Sue is taking chances to explore alternatives in life but has yet to find anything that interests her enough to purse it.
Josh has just started college this semester and is positive he wants to go to medical school. he has never considered any other career for himself. His father is a doctor, as was his grandfather. For as long as he can remember, all he has ever wanted to do is follow in his fathers footsteps and become a doctor as well. He is sure it is his calling.
Foreclosure- He is determining his future by what others think and are doing and hasn't taken any time to really consider alternatives or other options that interest him.
Cindy has just graduated from college with a B.A. in psychology. It took her almost 6 years to get her degree because she changed her major so many times. First she was an English major, then it was art, next business. Finally, she took a general psychology class and was hooked. Later, she got a part-time job at a mental health facility and knew this was the field for her. Now she is going to graduate school to earn her PhD in psychology. From her experience working at the mental health facility she knows she wants to be a psychologist who works with troubled children.
Achievement- She has taken the time to explore alternatives and has chosen something that she finds interesting to purse.
Diffusion- little effort or desire to pursue anything in his future. He occupies his time with meaningless tasks.
Sue seems to change her mind every few weeks about most everything. she cannot seem to settle on what she wants to do after high school. At times she says she wants to go to college, but at other times she says she wants to see the world. One minute she wants to be a doctors, the next she wants to be a writer. She is also continually changing her appearance. One month she was preppy, the next day she dyed her hair and bought a new wardrobe. her parents are not too concerned. They support her ideas about the future and knows she will eventually find her path.
Moratorium- Sue is taking chances to explore alternatives in life but has yet to find anything that interests her enough to purse it.
Josh has just started college this semester and is positive he wants to go to medical school. he has never considered any other career for himself. His father is a doctor, as was his grandfather. For as long as he can remember, all he has ever wanted to do is follow in his fathers footsteps and become a doctor as well. He is sure it is his calling.
Foreclosure- He is determining his future by what others think and are doing and hasn't taken any time to really consider alternatives or other options that interest him.
Cindy has just graduated from college with a B.A. in psychology. It took her almost 6 years to get her degree because she changed her major so many times. First she was an English major, then it was art, next business. Finally, she took a general psychology class and was hooked. Later, she got a part-time job at a mental health facility and knew this was the field for her. Now she is going to graduate school to earn her PhD in psychology. From her experience working at the mental health facility she knows she wants to be a psychologist who works with troubled children.
Achievement- She has taken the time to explore alternatives and has chosen something that she finds interesting to purse.