2. Diffusion:
• Lack clear direction;
• not committed to values and goals;
• may never have explored
alternatives;
• apathetic about any role; change
jobs, relationships, etc
3. Example: When asked about his
attitude toward nontraditional gender
roles, the adolescent responds, “Oh,
I don’t know. It doesn’t make much
difference to me. I can take it or
leave it.”
4. Foreclosure:
• Committed to values and goals
without taking time to explore
alternatives;
• accept a ready-made identity
that authority figures have
chosen ( i.e., family business)
5. Example: When asked if she have
ever reconsidered her religious
beliefs, the adolescent states, “No,
not really; our family is pretty much
in agreement on these things.”
6. Moratorium:
• Means delay or holding pattern;
no definite commitments, yet; in
the process of exploration-
gathering information and trying
out new activities
7. Example: When asked if he had ever had
doubts about his religious beliefs, the
adolescent answers, “Yes, I guess I’m
going through that right now. I just don’t
see how there can be a god and yet so
much evil in the world.”
8. Achievement:
• Committed to a clearly formulated
set of self-chosen values and
goals.
• Feel a sense of psychological well-
being, of sameness through time,
and of knowing where they are
going.
9. Example: When asked how willing she
would be to give up going into her
chosen occupation if something better
came along, the adolescent responds, “I
might, but I doubt it. I’ve thought long
and hard about law as a career. I’m
pretty certain it’s for me.
