Def. Terms - Identity Crisis

What does it mean when a person goes thru and Identity Crisis?

Check out the RT Forum to see what this term actually means

....you may be surprised....

Here's a sum up of the discussion:

A German psychologist by the name of Erikson coined the term an identity crisis as a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself.

After reading this, identity crises lost its negative connotation.

James Marcia expanded on this theory by adding balance between identity and confusion lies in making a commitment to an identity.

The balance between identity and confusion lies in making a commitment to an identity. - James Marcia

Foreclosure status is when a person has made a commitment without attempting identity exploration.
Identity achievement occurs when an individual has gone through an exploration of different identities and made a commitment to one.
Identity diffusion occurs when there is neither an identity crisis or commitment. Those with a status of identity diffusion tend to feel out of place in the world and don't pursue a sense of identity.
Moratorium is the status of a person who is actively involved in exploring different identities but has not made a commitment.