Question 1

Which of the following best captures Archer's conclusions regarding adolescents' attitudes of their emerging adult roles?

Accepted Answer

Archer concludes that adolescents' concerns about their emerging adult roles confirm that identity achievement may be in several different phases of identity formation at the same time, depending on the context. This suggests that adolescent identity formation is complex and context-dependent, rather than a linear process.

Question 2

During adolescence there is often a period when individuals explore a number of roles and potential identities.This uncertainty and exploration is common during which stage of identity formation?

Accepted Answer

The period of exploration and uncertainty described in the question is most characteristic of the moratorium stage of identity formation. During this stage, individuals actively seek out new experiences and information about themselves in order to develop their identity. In contrast, the achievement stage involves a sense of commitment to a particular identity, the diffusion stage lacks both exploration and commitment, and the foreclosure stage involves a commitment to an identity without the exploration or consideration of alternative options.

Question 3

Holly is a college student from a ministerial family.Her parents and grandparents were ministers,and she accepts that her future career will be within the ministry.Based on this description,which phase of identity formation best characterizes Holly's attitude?

Accepted Answer

Holly's acceptance of a future career within the ministry without exploration or consideration of other options indicates foreclosure, which is the phase of identity formation characterized by an early commitment to an identity without considering alternatives.

Question 4

Fifteen-year-old Angelica has had a relatively smooth transition over the course of early adolescence.Her parents have very strict rules and in response to their constant urgings,she has decided on which university she will attend and her program of studies.Based on this description,which phase of identity formation best characterizes Angelica's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Angelica's behaviour seems to be characterized by foreclosure, as she has made important life decisions without much exploration. Her parents' strict rules may have influenced her choices rather than her personal exploration of different options.

Question 5

Rachelle is 18 years old,and when people ask her what she wants to do when she finishes school she tells them she hasn't really given it much thought.She is convinced there is plenty of time before she needs to think about career options.Based on this description,which state of identity formation best characterizes Rachelle's attitude?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rachelle is 18 years old,and when people...

Question 6

After considering a number of alternatives,the adolescent who has arrived at a sense of self and direction in his or her life would be in which phase of identity formation?

Accepted Answer

The adolescent who has arrived at a sense of self and direction in their life has reached the achievement phase of identity formation. This means that they have explored different alternatives and have made commitments to specific decisions, which leads to a stable sense of self. The other options - diffusion, foreclosure, and moratorium - are all stages in the process of identity formation before achieving a stable sense of self.

Question 7

Bill is an adolescent who has chosen a religious identity without exploring potential alternatives to his beliefs.Which of Marcia's categories of identity formation does Bill's choice represent?

Accepted Answer

Bill's choice of a religious identity without exploring alternatives represents foreclosure, which is the category in which an individual makes a commitment to an identity without experiencing a crisis or exploring alternatives.

Question 8

According to James Marcia,people who refuse to confront the challenge of charting a life course and committing to an ideology are in which state of identity formation?

Accepted Answer

According to James Marcia's theory of identity formation, "diffusion" is the state in which individuals have not yet made a commitment to an ideology or life course and therefore refuse to confront the challenge of charting a life course. The other options - achievement, moratorium, and foreclosure - all involve some level of commitment or exploration of ideology and life course.

Question 9

Both of Joanna's parents are high school teachers and two of her aunts are college instructors.For as long as she can remember,Joanna has wanted to be a teacher too.Based on this description,which phase of identity formation best characterizes Joanna's attitude?

Accepted Answer

Joanna has already made a firm commitment to becoming a teacher based on her family's influence, therefore her attitude best characterizes foreclosure - the phase of identity formation in which an individual adopts values and goals without exploring alternatives.

Question 10

Which of the following best summarizes the research findings regarding identity status as evaluated within the area of religious values?

Accepted Answer

Research findings show that identity status in relation to religious values is not a universal human behaviour. Rather, it is uneven and culturally specific, varying across different societies and religions. There is no evidence to suggest that it is sexually dimorphic or that it is achieved after considerable stress to the individual.

Question 11

In contrast to children who are raised in individualistic societies,children raised in collectivist societies tend to have self-concepts centred around which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Children raised in collectivist societies are taught that relationships with others are important and define their sense of self, while individualistic societies emphasize personal preferences, attributes, and achievements.

Question 12

Which identity status is associated with the highest self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Achievement identity status is associated with the highest self-esteem because individuals in this status have actively explored different options and made commitments to values, beliefs, and identities that are important to them. This sense of clarity and decision-making leads to greater confidence and self-assurance. On the other hand, moratorium identity status involves actively exploring options without making commitments, which can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. Foreclosure identity status involves accepting identities and values without exploration, while diffusion identity status involves not exploring options nor making commitments, both of which can also lead to low self-esteem.

Question 13

The achievement of which identity status is most likely to characterize individuals who have anxiety and low self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The achievement of which identity status is...

Question 14

The achievement of which identity status is most likely to characterize individuals who feel neglected or rejected by their parents?

Accepted Answer

Individuals who feel neglected or rejected by their parents are more likely to have a diffuse identity status, meaning they have not yet explored any important life choices and have no clear commitment to any values or goals. They may feel lost and confused about who they are and what they want in life.

Question 15

Chris is nearing the end of his doctoral studies.His only decision now is whether to pursue observational field research or laboratory research,and he has applied to postdoctoral positions for both.Based on this information,which identity status would you assign to Chris if you endorsed Marcia's categorical system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chris is nearing the end of his...

Question 16

Raymond has taken a number of courses in a pre-Law program,but recently became interested in developmental psychology.In order to make future career decisions,he spends a great deal of time investigating both careers and charting how to transfer prerequisite courses between programs of study.Based on this information,which identity status would you assign to Raymond if you endorsed Marcia's categorical system?

Accepted Answer

Raymond is in a state of moratorium as he is actively exploring multiple options and trying to make informed decisions about his future career path. He is researching and charting courses to see how they can be applied to different programs of study. This is reflective of the core characteristics of the moratorium identity status.

Question 17

Alain is a 23-year-old university student who has changed majors several times.At the beginning of his studies he intended to become a teacher,but now he plans on using the skills he acquired in biochemistry to work at a pharmaceutical company.Recently,he has started to think about going into graduate school in psychology.Based on this description,which phase of identity formation best characterizes Alain's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Alain's behaviour of changing majors several times and contemplating different career paths indicates that he is in the moratorium phase of identity formation. In this phase, individuals are actively exploring different possibilities and have not yet made a firm commitment to a specific identity.

Question 18

Even though Cassie feels that her parents are relatively controlling,she is extremely close to them,and she often worries about living up to their standards.Based on research findings,which identity status is Cassie likely to be in?

Accepted Answer

Cassie's description fits the foreclosure identity status, which is characterized by a strong commitment to values and beliefs set by others (in this case, her parents) without exploring alternatives. The fact that she worries about meeting their standards suggests that she has already made this commitment.

Question 19

What goals are usually expressed by a person in the state of identity foreclosure?

Accepted Answer

Individuals in the state of identity foreclosure are usually not fully self-aware and have not yet explored their own values and beliefs. As a result, their goals are often adopted from others, such as parents, peers or authority figures, rather than being arrived at independently through a process of self-reflection.

Question 20

Wayne is 24 years old and he feels very confident about a number of aspects of his identity.He explored a variety of options and has come to firm decisions about his occupational goals,his religious beliefs,and his political ideals.Based on this description,what do you predict was the parental style used by Wayne's parents as he was growing up?

Accepted Answer

Wayne's confidence and ability to make firm decisions about important aspects of his identity suggest that his parents likely provided a supportive and democratic environment where he was encouraged to explore and make his own choices.

Quiz 13: Development of the Self and Social Cognition