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What is an Identity Crisis?

Tricia Christensen
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Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 83,481
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An identity crisis is a time in life when an individual begins to seriously look for answers about the nature of his or her being and the search for an identity. 20th century developmental psychologist Erik Erikson developed this term, which is used frequently. He used it mostly to apply to the period of transition in the teenage years when kids begin to define what they will do as adults, and what their values are. It is now thought that an identity crisis may occur at any time of life, especially in periods of great transition.

Most teens go through periods of defiance against parental figures and other authorities. Though kids may make extremely poor choices when they choose to defy their parents, they are often participating in a deep exploration of self 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 fearful and difficult, since deliberate disobedience to certain standards may be inherently risky. Kids can, unfortunately, wreck their futures if they push too far away from parental or societal law; they could end up addicted to drugs or parenting children of their own far before they’re ready.

Nevertheless, most children must make this fearful passage to find a unique identity. When they are in the midst of it, this may be called the moratorium stage. In this part choices are being evaluated and explored, and there might be high incidence of exploration or various ideas, interests, careers, and sexuality, among other things. Once through the crisis, people have what is called identity achievement. They have set their feet on a path and determined who they are and what they want to be.

This isn’t only about determining a potential career. Such a crisis can be about exploring sexual identity and deciding what ethics and values are most important. Some people end up on a path that determines their identity without exploration or introspection, and this may be called a foreclosure state. Some social scientists feel that a foreclosure will precipitate an identity crisis at a later point, since little exploration about choices was made. Occasionally, people who live in very restrictive environments have their choices made for them, and an identity is established without much choice or examination of other options.

There are certain cultures that deeply encourage and facilitate an identity crisis. In Amish cultures, some communities encourage older teens to live in the outside world before determining whether they will remain a permanent part of the Amish community and be baptized. Similarly, some Roman Catholic communities now have changed confirmation to a later time, or encourage people to take time to consider whether they truly wish to be confirmed in the Church. Allowing an identity to emerge before making such important decisions seems psychologically sound.

As mentioned, this crisis is not restricted to adolescence and the emergence into adulthood. It can occur at any time, and many people label the midlife crisis as a crisis of identity. Some people find their values, choices, or paths inappropriate after major life changes like a divorce. Furthermore, nations and communities can suffer these crises too as they grow or respond to major changes. How a culture identifies itself and what it wants and holds dear can be part of a national identity crisis that may take a while to resolve and may be somewhat constantly in flux.

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Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a The Health Board contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By anon309606 — On Dec 17, 2012

To never truly know who you are, your personality, your strengths and weaknesses, what you want out of life or where you belong in the world as a human being is an identity crisis.

To simply question yourself out of curiosity for a better understanding is just human nature. An identity crisis occurs at the teen age, but tends to trouble the said person more as an adult as the problem becomes more troublesome and noticeable. Also, an identity crisis and a midlife crisis are two different things with some similar characteristics.

By anon166575 — On Apr 09, 2011

Well I think we should not base identity crisis on being inquisitive, but on the lack of surety about your individuality. An identity crisis arises because by virtue of creation, we are all unique, so it now comes in pursuit of fitting in "to be like anybody else" leaving out the real you unlived.

By anon135478 — On Dec 19, 2010

What about twins who were close but one controlled the other twin? She did not say anything to her she just went along with it just keeping it inside, so angry with her but saying nothing, then all of a sudden she is the one who is suffering from all this identity crisis stuff, anxiety, depression all sorts of symptoms,and she is not bothered with it. --need to know

By GreenWeaver — On Aug 06, 2010

Bhutan- That is so true, but you know sometimes being an adult also causes an identity crisis.

For example, at around age 50, many men start to question their age and attractiveness. This may manifest itself in choosing significantly younger partners in order to feel more youthful.

This milestone birthday can really cause an identity crisis for men. They still want to feel youthful even though their age is advancing.

Sometimes a man facing this conflict may choose to purchase a fast sports car. This also helps them feel younger.

By Bhutan — On Aug 06, 2010

Icecream17-I think an identity crisis happens any time that you question yourself. Adolescence is a time of many changes in which a child essentially is no longer a child, but not quite in adult.

This poses a dilemma for teenagers which often cause conflict with their parents. Many teenagers seek independence which moves them forward into adulthood, but parents often want to protect them and limit their freedom until they reach adulthood.

Usually this type of identity crisis resolves itself once the teenager becomes a full-fledged adult but it is a painful time for the teenager in the meantime.

By icecream17 — On Aug 06, 2010

The Superman identity crisis causes the superhero to feel torn between being Clark Kent and Superman.

Clark Kent is an average newspaper reporter with an average life. However, Superman is a superhero and a lot is expected of him. Although being Superman is more glorious, there is also more pressure.

This causes Superman to wonder which lifestyle is better, Clark Kent’s or Superman.

This constant pull between the two identities causes Superman to have an identity crisis.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a The Health Board contributor, Tricia...
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